Castle Hill

After Williams' attack, it was realized that Fort Louis was not enough protection for Placentia since its guns did not command the entire Roadstead, thereby, allowing ships to ride in safety in the region of Freshwater Cove. Thus a small redoubt, the Gaillardin, was erected on the hill immediately above the fort and 4 cannons were mounted. In 1693 another English fleet commanded by Wheeler arrived and though no attack was attempted, it prompted further work on the fortifications. The new structure called Fort Royal mounted 8 guns and located on the heights west of the Gaillardin effectively commanded the approaches to Placentia. During the English occupation the fort became known as Castle Graves after the Governor of Newfoundland but except for two short periods of use in 1742 and 1758 was not maintained. At present, the Gaillardin and Castle Hill are part of the National Historic Park complex.

A year passed between the two attacks of 1692 and 1693. Brouillan took advantage of this time to reinforce his defesive position. In a letter dated September 25, he announced to the minister the consturction, in the north- east corner of the fort, of a powder-magazine 14 feet square. It was solidly built with a vaulted roof. Furthermore, he also asked permission to erect a redoubt on the hill (next to the Gaillardin) overlooking the fort; and he also asked that tiles or slates be sent for the roofs of the magazines and barracks. On February 25, 1693, the king responded to his request. Aboard the Loire, he sent him 20 recruits, four cannons, some arms, munitions, etc. He also gave categorical instructions concerning the fortifications. His Majesty wanted the post to be "su bien fortifiez, que les Anglais n'oseront plus songer a les insulter." In order to give more help in carrying out of his instructions, the Court ordered every ship going to Placentia to carry one or two barrels of lime for the fortifications, as the lime available in the country was of poor quality.

With the arrival of the spring reinforcements, the governor had already begun to have the redoubt on the mountain constructed when the English attack of 1693 began. In order to improve the defence of this incompleted redoubt, Brouillian had a platform made and with the help of purchase tackles and hoists, had a culverin with 10 pounds of balls and a battery of four cannons mounted. Then, on August 30, he saw to it that a post made of pickets was constructed within muskets shot of the redoubt. These were the only defence work carried out in 1693.

Once the attack was over, the governor was once again faced with the same problem: the militia was not very skilled in battle, as they did not know how to use the arms at their disposal; the inhabitants refused to work on the fortifications, or demanded to be compensated; the soldiers deserted their posts... So Brouillan continued to ask for help: he asked for more cannons, more soldiers, a chain 100 fantoms long and "egale en grosseur a celle de Brest" as well as four large buoys to close the entrance to the port. On December 14, 1693, as the difficulties were too great, and there was a lack of cooperation on the part of the population, the governor announced cessation of the work being done on the redoubt.

On March 10 the King made a fresh attempt. He ordered Brouillan to finish the redoubt that he had begun building on the hill, as well as the barracks, the magazine and the cavalier. The redoubt was finished according to the first phase of the plan. It was situated in a place that was practically inaccessible to the enemy as well as being an ideal place from which to cover the roadstead, the port and the fort.