Visit Fort Berkeley and be transported to the time when the British navy and the troops of Horatio Nelson governed Antigua. Wander around the remains of this stronghold’s defensive walls, spot antique cannons and peek inside a gunpowder storehouse. Marvel at the views from Fort Berkeley of the beaches and green hills that beautify the natural landscape of English Harbour.
Construction of this impenetrable fort took place between 1704 and the 1740s. It stands strategically on a peninsula at the entrance to English Harbour. The fort was once one of 20 fortresses that protected the island of Antigua. On your approach, look for a stone quarry which sourced the material for the building. Just before the entryway is the building of the former gunpowder magazine.
Pass the entrance to find a warehouse that was previously used for packing ammunition. Adjacent to this is the one-time house of the fort’s guard. Follow a stone pathway to the walled section and battery at the edge of the peninsula. During the fort’s heyday 29 cannons protected it and warded off pirate attacks. Look for a 24-pound cannon, which faces out over the sea, and an overturned cannon embedded in the rocks.
The views from the defensive walls are sublime. Look across the bay to Galleon Beach and the Pillars of Hercules limestone rock formations. It’s possible to make out the relics of Fort Charlotte amid the greenery above the pillars. Gaze northward to the historic Nelson’s Dockyard, where Horatio Nelson lived during his tenure in Antigua.
The fort is accessible by foot only and is about a 10-minute walk from Nelson’s Dockyard. Continue your discovery of English Harbour by walking the trail that connects the fort with Pigeon’s Point Beach. Bring your swimsuit and take an invigorating dip in the warm, blue-green water.
Fort Berkeley is open daily and admission is free. Visit in late April, when you can watch boats taking part in Antigua Sailing Week.
