Fort Frederick

The history of Fort Frederick begins with the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.This treaty gave England supremacy over Newfoundland and the French capital of Placentia. England had always realized the importance of the port and made special provisions in the treaty for Placentia, which they considered to be the capital of the fishing industry. Article XV of the agreement stated that the French capital would be handed over to the English, and that the French would evacuate. The English quickly abandoned their forts in St.John s and went to Placentia.

Fort Frederick named after H.R.H. Prince Frederick the Prince of Wales was the first fort build on the Grand Beach and the only English fort built in Placentia. It was approved and ordered by the Office of Ordnance in 1715 but construction did not start until 1717 with completion in 1722. With this protection new inhabitants and business firms settled in Placentia. Including a naval shipyard for European ships in need of repair operated by Sweetman and Saunders. The Fort itself was constructed largely from old stones from the former French Fort Louis as well as new stones from the quarry on Dixon Hill. At the time of completion Fort Frederick consisted of a semi-circular redoubt with 12 cannons, a guard house, barracks and a store-house all surrounded by a picket palisade.

The forts first commanding officer was Colonel Phillips. Phillips was responsible for the establishment of the 40th Regiment Prince of Wales Volunteers and establishing Placentia and Fort Frederick as the base of English operations in Newfoundland. The Fort was garrisoned from 1717 to 1764 by four Companies of the 1st Battalion of the 40th Regiment. Placentia had become the center for England's military operations in Newfoundland but it is important to note that it came under the jurisdiction of Nova Soctia.

In 1744 Fort Frederick under went some repairs and additions. The redoubt was reinforced with timber and a sod work facing. The guns were reduced to 8 from 12. Two bastions were added onto the landward side of the palisade upon which cohorn mortars were mounted. In 1753, on the eve of the Seven Years War, the garrison included a detachment of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and a company of Colonel Hampsom s Regiment. Armaments consisted of 15 canons of 18 pound and 4x9 with mountings, nine 4" brass mortars, two wall pieces swivelled and 150 muskets and bayonets. In 1758 the garrison numbered 115 military men. The garrison was made up of the 40th Infantry Regiment of Hamilton and the Royal Regiment of Artillery. An increase brought on by the war.

A report by Governor Shuldham dated 1772 gives the following description of the condition of Fort Frederick. Fort Frederick situated on the southern point, commands the entrance to the port. To the west of the defence work there were mounted three batteries of 16x18 : eight on the half-moon or large battery, six on the left battery and two on another battery. Part of the large battery had been made bomb-proof. The casements on the inside could accommodate 50 soldiers, and were equipped with a magazine and a cistern. This section of the fort was in quite good condition and in spite of a few repairs that were needed. The same thing was true of the wooden barracks inside the fort, which could accommodate as many as two hundred men. As far as the rest of the fort is concerned, it was in an advanced stage of dilapidation. On April 8th , 1811, the order was given to disarm Placentia. In conformance with the order in 1812 the Garrison of Placentia was dismantled and the whole of the serviceable ordnance, ammunition and stores brought to St. John s. The Board of Ordnance wrote, then Governor Duckworth, that he was to sell the buildings and rent the land. Thus, Fort Frederick was abandoned ending a 95-year English military presence in Placentia.

In the 1960's the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador declared Fort Frederick a Provincial Historic Site. Located on the site is a monument flanked by cannons pointing to the sea.