FORT CHARLOTTE

Overlooking the sea, with its cannons pointing landward, it is one of the many testimonies to the island's history and rich heritage. Built of stone, Fort Charlotte was begun by the French in 1786 and completed by the English in 1806. Located five minutes from the capital, it stands at the entrance to Kingstown Bay on the crest of a sheer cliff, more than 600 feet above sea level (approx. 196 metres). In the heart of the fort, the works of Lindsay Prescott, once an officer in the English navy, allow today's visitors to appreciate several paintings evocative of the period, set against the backdrop of the history of the Black Caribs. Curiously, the fort's cannons are aimed at the land, not the sea... According to some, the greatest concern of the garrisons of yesteryear was the unexpected attacks of the Carib Indians, rather than the methodical assaults of enemy vessels pounding the sea, helm to starboard, on the opposite side of the fortress. Today, Fort Charlotte houses a small bay monitoring and weather control station. A vestige of the island and a must-see on any visitor's itinerary, it could soon be welcoming artists and traditional craftspeople from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to its walls. The idea is very appealing and will undoubtedly offer visitors a new vision of the island through art and history. A very pleasant visit!