Downtown in St. John's in Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

Fort Townshend

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, July 2024

1. Fort Townshend Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The threat to Newfoundland's security and to her commerce that developed during the American Revolution increased the urgency of completing the fortification of St. John's. Colonel Robert Pringle of the Royal Engineers, Commandant of the garrison and engineer in charge of the King's Works, had, by 1779, completed the construction of Fort Townshend begun by Governor Lord Shuldham in 1773, and had constructed Military Road linking that fort with Fort William. Fort Townshend became, on its completion, headquarters of the Newfoundland garrison. The garrison was disbanded and the fort abandoned in 1871.

La menace que la révolution américaine fit peser sur Terre-Neuve et son commerce hâta l'achèvement des fortifications de St-Jean. Entrepris en 1773 par le gouverneur lord Shuldham, le fort fut terminé en 1779, par le colonel Robert Pringle, du Corps royal de génie, commandant de la garnison et ingénieur chargé des ouvrages du Roi, qui construisit aussi la Military Road» reliant le fort Townshend au fort William. Le fort Townshend servit de quartier général de la garnison de Terre-Neuve, et on l'abandonna

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en 1871 au licenciement de la garnison.

Erected 1953 by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1779.

Location. 47° 34.003′ N, 52° 42.637′ W. Marker is in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in Avalon Peninsula. It is in Downtown. It is on Harvey Road near Bonaventure Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: St John's NL A1C A1C, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Avalon Peninsula.

It is also in Atlantic Canada.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

the Viceroyalty of New France,

and Acadia.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gower Street United Church (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); St. John the Baptist Anglican Cathedral (about 210 meters away); 32 Queen's Road (about 210 meters away); (Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Monument) (about 210 meters away); Masonic Temple (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); William Carson (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Former Bank of British North America (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Bank of British North America (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. John's.

Also see . . . Fort Townshend (St John's) (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Fort
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Townshend is an archaeological site in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador that was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1951. The original military fort was built, as the headquarters of the British garrison, between 1775 and 1779, to secure St John's from attacks, from the French, as well as from American privateers, and it was abandoned in 1871. The great star-shaped citadel was one of the largest British fortifications in North America at the time. The Rooms which houses the Art Gallery, the Provincial Archives and the Provincial Museum, of Newfoundland and Labrador now stands on this site. During the planning and construction of the building much opposition was raised by archaeologists and historians.

(Submitted on December 9, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 45 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 8, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. photo of the marker within its surroundings • Can you help?