Fort William, Newfoundland

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Fort William
St. John's, Newfoundland
View from Fort William
Type	Fortress, garrisoned and armoured.
Site history
Built	1698
In use	1700 - 1871
Battles/wars	King William's War 1689-1697 Queen Anne's War 1702-13 King George's War 1743-48 French and Indian War 1756-63
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Fort William National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1952
Garrison information
Garrison	English

Fort William was a fort in St. John's built in 1698 to protect English interests on Newfoundland, primarily against French opposition. It was the original headquarters of the British garrison in Newfoundland. A second fort, known as Fort George was situated at the east end of the harbour connected by a subterranean passage with Fort William. On the south side of the Narrows, there was a third fortification called the Castle. Garrison headquarters were later moved to Fort Townshend, which was built between 1775-1779.

The Fort was demolished in 1881 to make room for a railway yard, the barracks being used as the station. This was demolished in 1910 and urban development now occupies the site.

Fort William was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1952.^[1] As there are no visible remains, the site is marked by a Historic Sites and Monuments Board plaque located on a retaining wall at the corner of Cavendish Square and Duckworth Street in downtown St. John’s