Fort Shirley
Fort Shirley is part of the Cabrits National Park and located north of the city of Portsmouth. It was a military fort constructed out of a volcanic crater. The British constructed it as a defence against the French in the 18th to 19th centuries. One of the most spectacular events that occurred in the fortress was the 1802 revolt by African slave soldiers. This uprising culminated in the freeing of all British slave soldiers in 1807.
Fort Shirley and its Role
Fort Shirley fell into disrepair and dilapidation following the withdrawal of the British and French in 1854. However, much of the fortress has been rebuilt recently by accredited Dominican historian Dr. Lennox Honychurch and other international organizations for research purposes. Visitors can see the Officers’ Quarters, rows of cannons, soldiers’ barracks, powder magazines, ordnance stores, guardhouses, ramparts, and various lookouts for ships coming within range of the fort.
Considering the former outpost’s recent renovations, social events such as wedding receptions, concerts, cultural performances, and academic lectures are held at the fort. Fort Shirley overlooks Prince Rupert’s Bay and Douglas Bay on the northwestern coast of Dominica.