Mount Helicon, Saint George, Grenada — Caribbean Region of the Americas (Lesser Antilles of the West Indies)

Fort Frederick

Grenada Historic Forts

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 1, 2019

1. Fort Frederick Marker

Inscription. Welcome to Fort Frederick – one of the few forts in the world which has never fired a shot in anger. It was built by the French, who had wrested the island from the British in 1779. The French realized that had such fortifications existed at the time of their assault on Grenada, their attempt to storm Hospital Hill and thereby capture the island could have failed. So, one of the first acts of the new French Government was to commence building a series of forts on Richmond Hill: Fort Frederick, and the neighbouring forts Matthew to the North, and Adolphus, and Lucas to the South. Mount George Estate, the property of the Hon. William Lucas, was forcibly appropriated for that purpose. Four years later, the Treaty of Versailles gave the island back to Britain, leaving the British to complete what the French had started.

Hospital Hill can clearly be seen down below and to the right, looking over the town of St. George’s. Fort George stands guard on the promontory at the harbour entrance.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1779.

Location. 12° 2.896′ N,

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61° 44.248′ W. Marker is in Mount Helicon, Saint George. It can be reached from Richmond Hill just north of Creighton, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is one of the Lesser Antilles

on the Caribbean Sea,

on in the Atlantic Ocean,

in North America,

in the Western Hemisphere,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In the Bowels of the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Backwards Facing Forts (within shouting distance of this marker); Port Louis (1650) (approx. one kilometer away); Marryshow House (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Grenada Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Union (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); Destruction of the Bianca C (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); St. George's Methodist Church (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Grenada National Museum (approx. 1.7 kilometers away).

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 1, 2019

2. Fort Frederick Marker

The marker can be seen near the entrance to Fort Frederick. This view from inside the fort is looking out towards the parking area and Grenada's national emergency management agency offices.

Fort Frederick, seen from the nearby parking area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 1, 2019

3. Fort Frederick, seen from the nearby parking area

A view of St. George's from Fort Frederick image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 1, 2019

4. A view of St. George's from Fort Frederick

Nearby Fort Matthew image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 1, 2019

5. Nearby Fort Matthew

Some meters north of Fort Frederick are the remains of Fort Matthew, another colonial-era fort. At this location was a mental hospital, accidentally bombed by U.S. forces during the invasion of Grenada in 1983, most likely due to its close proximity to opposing forces.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,639 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 12, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.