Fort Townshend (St John's) facts for kids

The Rooms (North face), where Fort Townshend stood

Fort Townshend is an important historical site in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1951. The British military built this fort between 1775 and 1779. Its main job was to protect St. John's from attacks. These threats came from the French and from American privateers (who were like armed ships working for a government). Fort Townshend was the main base for British soldiers in Newfoundland. It was used until 1871. Today, a large building called The Rooms stands on the same spot. The Rooms holds an art gallery, provincial archives, and a museum.

Why Fort Townshend Was Built

The British needed a strong fort in St. John's. Their older fort, Fort William, was not safe enough. It could easily be hit by cannons from Signal Hill. This problem became clear when the French captured Fort William in 1762.

Protecting St. John's

The American Revolution (1775-1783) made the British worry even more. They needed better defenses for St. John's. So, they decided to build a new, stronger fort. This new fort was Fort Townshend. It was built to keep St. John's safe from both French forces and American privateers.

Building the Fort

Work on Fort Townshend began in 1773. Governor Lord Shuldham started the project. By 1779, Colonel Robert Pringle finished the construction. He was a Royal Engineer and the leader of the soldiers. A road called Military Road was also built. This road connected Fort Townshend with the older Fort William. Once finished, Fort Townshend became the main headquarters for the British soldiers in Newfoundland.

Changes and Abandonment

Fort Townshend was made bigger and stronger in 1796. This was because of a war with France. The fort became part of a larger plan to improve all the defenses in the area.

French Threat in 1796

In 1796, a French fleet (a group of warships) led by Admiral Richery appeared near St. John's. However, the strong defenses of Fort Townshend and other forts scared them away. The French fleet left without attacking.

War of 1812

Later, the War of 1812 (between Britain and America) brought new worries. Fort Townshend was made stronger again. Even though there was a threat, no battles took place at the fort during this war.

Fort's End and Legacy

The British soldiers left Fort Townshend in 1871. After they left, the fort was no longer maintained and slowly fell apart. In 1951, the site of Fort Townshend was officially named a National Historic Site of Canada. Today, there are not many parts of the original fort left to see. However, some remains can still be found in the basement of The Rooms building. The Rooms was built right on top of the old fort's location.