Paget Island facts for kids
Paget Island within Bermuda's 123 islands
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| Etymology | William Paget |
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 32°22′31″N 64°39′36″W / 32.37528°N 64.66000°W |
| Area | 14.5 ha (36 acres) |
| Administration | |
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Bermuda
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| Parish | St. George's |
Paget Island is a small island that is part of Bermuda. It is located in St. George's Parish, in the northeast area of the territory.
About Paget Island
Paget Island is about 36 acres (14.5 hectares) in size. It sits at the northern entrance to St. George's Harbor. This is east of the town of St. George's. It is also just north of a slightly larger island called Smith's Island.
The island gets its name from a person called William Paget. He was the fourth Lord of Paget. Before that, the island was also known as Pennystones. In the past, Paget Island and nearby Smith's Island were important places for whaling. This means people used them as centers for hunting whales.
Fort Cunningham's History
The most important landmark on Paget Island is Fort Cunningham. When the first Governor, Richard Moore, arrived in 1612, he quickly realized how important Paget Island was. It was the main way for ships to get from St. George's to the Atlantic Ocean. This meant any enemy ships would have to pass by the island.
Because of this, the first defenses were built on the island as early as 1612. These defenses were expanded in 1619. Major building work continued throughout the 1700s and 1800s. Fort Cunningham is very important for history, but today it is not in good condition.
The fort also served other purposes. In 1746, it was used to hold many Prisoners of War. Later, during World War II, it was used to hold people from Germany and Austria.
Visiting Paget Island
It's not very easy to visit Paget Island because there isn't a regular ferry service. However, if you get special permission, you can visit. The Bermuda Government's Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation manages a 20-acre campsite on the island. Only one group can stay at the campsite at a time. This makes it a unique and private place for camping adventures.
