Charles Fort (Barbados)

In 1650, a fort was constructed at Needham's Point (called Needham's Fort) to protect Carlisle Bay and Bridgetown from enemy attacks.[2] The English Civil War had just ended, and Barbados feared attacks by the British.[4][5] Oliver Cromwell had just overthrown the British monarchy, but Barbados remained loyal to the royalists and acknowledged the exiled Charles II as King.[4][5]

In 1651, Needham's Fort helped the local militia in prevent the successful landing of Cromwell’s troops, commanded by George Ayscue.[5] This event resulted in the Charter of Barbados (or Treaty of Oistins) in 1652,[5][4] which ended the fighting between Barbados and the English Commonwealth. In 1660, when Charles II was reinstated to the British throne, the fort was renamed Charles Fort.[5]

In 1665, Charles Fort successfully defended Barbados from surprise attack by the Dutch, commanded by Michiel De Ruyter.[5] The attack was the closest a foreign power ever came to invading Barbados.[5]

In the 1740s, the fort was further fortified. It was rebuilt in stone and two additional batteries were added on each side.[5]

George Washington visited Fort Charles during his visit to Barbados in 1751-1752.[6] He dined with the Captain at the fort multiple times during his six weeks in Barbados.[7] Charles Fort and Saint Ann's Fort were the first military forts that Washington had ever seen.[8]

The fort was property of the Colony of Barbados until 1836, when it was acquired by the Crown. It was decommissioned in 1905.[5]

In 1966, the remains of the fort were stabilized during the construction of the original Hilton Hotel in Barbados.[5] In 2004, with construction of the Hilton Barbados Resort, additional preservation and restoration measures were undertaken.[9]