Fort Young (Dominica)
| Fort Young | |
|---|---|
| Roseau, Dominica | |
  Fort Young  Fort Young | |
| Coordinates | 15°17′47″N 61°23′10″W / 15.29647°N 61.38624°W |
| Type | Fortification |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1770 |
| In use | No |
| Materials | Stone |
| Battles/wars | 1778 Invasion of Dominica (American Revolutionary War) |
Fort Young was a major military installation on the Caribbean island of Dominica. It was built by the British in 1770.[1] The fort was named for William Young, the island's first British governor.[1] Today, only ruins remain of the fort, and the site is the location of the Fort Young Hotel.[1][2]
History
[edit]17th and 18th centuries
[edit]In 1699, during the first French occupation of Barbados, a fort was built in Roseau, present-day capital of Dominica. In 1770, during the first British occupation of Barbados, a new fort was built at the location.[3] The new fort was named "Fort Young" for William Young, the island's first non-military British governor.[1] Young ordered the fort's construction during the time of the American Revolutionary War.[1] The fort was expanded by Captain Bruce, Royal Engineer, to contain 17 cannons.[4][5][6]
In 1778, the French successfully invaded Dominica and capturing multiple forts including Fort Young, and overtaking the island.[7] During this second occupation by the French, the fort's name was changed to Fort de La Reine.[8] Additions were made to the fort,[9] including improvements to the barracks, storeroom, and ramparts.[8] Dominica remained controlled by the French until 1784.[7] The island was returned to British control under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. On the January 10, 1784, a cannon salute was fired from Fort Young as Governor John Orde arrived via frigate to retake possession of Dominica.[7]
19th century to present
[edit]From the 1850s to 1960s, the fort was used as the headquarters of Dominica's police force.[1][9] In 1964, Fort Young Hotel was built on the site.[1][10] In 1979, Hurricane David destroyed a significant part of the fort's remains.[9] The courtyard of the hotel retains the fort's original flagstone walkways.[1][2] 19th-century cannons are located in the hotel's foyer[11][12] and at the entrance is a large stone that was once used to mount horses.[13] In 2023, hotel renovations included a new bar and lounge set in the fort's barracks, and a new fitness center at the level of the fort's ramparts and near the original flagpole.[14][15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Gravette, Andrew Gerald (2000). Architectural heritage of the Caribbean: an A-Z of historic buildings. Signal Books. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-902669-09-0.
- ^ a b "Fort Young Hotel:A Stylish and Savvy Blend of the Old and the New". Panonthenet. January 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- ^ About Dominica: Nature Island of the Caribbean : a Detailed Tourism-oriented Guide to Dominica. Voice Publishing Company. 1981. p. 4.
- ^ Sigurdsson, Haraldur; Carey, Steven (1990). Caribbean Volcanoes: a Field Guide: --Martinique, Dominica and St. Vincent--. Geological Association of Canada, Toronto '91 Committee.
- ^ "Morne Bruce Garrison Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ Honychurch, Lennox (1975). The Dominica Story: A History of the Island. Honychurch.
- ^ a b c Boromé, Joseph A. (1969). "Dominica during French Occupation, 1778-1784". The English Historical Review. 84 (330): 36–58. doi:10.1093/ehr/LXXXIV.CCCXXX.36. ISSN 0013-8266. JSTOR 562321.
- ^ a b Honychurch, Lennox (2019-08-01). In the Forests of Freedom: The Fighting Maroons of Dominica. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-4968-2377-9.
- ^ a b c McCanse, Anna (2011). Dominica (Other Places Travel Guide). Other Places Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9822619-7-2.
- ^ "Fort Young Hotel". The Telegraph. 2016-08-04. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ Christina Paulette Colón; Darwin Porter; Alexis Lipsitz Flipin; Danforth Prince; John Marino (23 August 2010). Frommer's Caribbean 2011. Frommer's. pp. 252–. ISBN 978-0-470-61446-4.
- ^ James Henderson (1 October 2005). Caribbean & the Bahamas. New Holland Publishers. pp. 237–. ISBN 978-1-86011-212-6.
- ^ Barzey, Ursula Petula (2023-03-06). "14 Historic Caribbean Hotels That Tell a Story of the Region's Past". Caribbean & Co. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Niland, Dana (2023-12-10). "In Dominica, a Major Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort Has a New Look". Caribbean Journal. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Dominica's Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort Set to Complete USD$18 Million Reimagination". Breaking Travel News. 19 October 2013.