Fort James
An eighteenth-century fort at the entrance to St John's harbour, with cannon in place.
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Fort James stands on the northern point at the entrance to St John's harbour, begun in the 1700s and completed in 1739, with a battery of ten cannon still mounted along the seaward wall and a powder magazine behind. It was one of a pair with Fort Barrington across the channel, the two covering the approach between them. The beach beside it is used by people from the town and the fort is open ground with no gate.
What you actually see
- The cannon battery - ten guns still mounted along the seaward wall.
- The powder magazine - the vaulted store behind the battery.
- The harbour entrance - the channel the fort was built to cover.
- The beach beside - the sand used by people from St John's.
When to go
December to April is the dry season. Late afternoon gives the best light over the harbour. The site is open at all times.
Honest expectations
The fort is unrestored with loose masonry and no interpretation. There is no shade. Vendors on the adjacent beach can be persistent.
Nearby
St John's is southeast, and Dickenson Bay is north.
What to pack for Fort James
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.