Rockfort,[a] located east of Kingston, Jamaica,[1] in an area previously known as Harbour Head,[2] is the ruins of a 17th century rock fort that was once surrounded by a moat.[3] First the site of a British rock fort,[1] it was fortified in 1694 to protect the eastern edge of Kingston against an invasion by the French.[1][2] To thwart any eastward advance of the Morant Bay rebellion to Kingston, it was last staffed in 1865.[1][3] The site that once protected Kingston Harbour is under the administration of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.[4]
After an earthquake in 1907, a spring formed in the mountains above the area. Spring water now feeds into the Rockfort Mineral Baths located at the site of the fort.[1]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ It was also historically known as Rock Fort, Rock-Fort, and The Rocks.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Polly Thomas; Adam Vaitilingam; Polly Rodger Brown (2003). The Rough Guide to Jamaica. Rough Guides. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-84353-111-1.
- ^ a b "Jamaica - Rockfort". Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Kingston, national capital, Jamaica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 28 May 2018.[non-tertiary source needed]
- ^ "Visit Jamaica - Rockfort". Visit Jamaica. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
Further reading
edit- George Fortunatus Judah (1906). Rock Fort, Fort Castile, Fort Nugent, Jamaica: Their History and Traditions. Times printery.
- Olive Senior (2003). Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage. Twin Guinep Publishers. p. 423. ISBN 978-976-8007-14-8.
External links
edit- "Remains of Spanish Fort - Rockfort, Kingston, Jamaica," National Library of Jamaica Digital Collection