Rockfort (Jamaica)

Ink drawing by William Berryman titled "On the Rockfort Road" from 1808
Port Royal and Kingston Harbours (map of 1774). Rockfort is located on the northeastern portion of Kingston Harbour.
For the community in Kingston, see Rockfort (Kingston, Jamaica).

Rockfort,[a] located east of Kingston, Jamaica,[1] in an area previously known as Harbour Head,[2] is the ruins of a 17th century rock fort that was once surrounded by a moat.[3] First the site of a British rock fort,[1] it was fortified in 1694 to protect the eastern edge of Kingston against an invasion by the French.[1][2] To thwart any eastward advance of the Morant Bay rebellion to Kingston, it was last staffed in 1865.[1][3] The site that once protected Kingston Harbour is under the administration of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.[4]

After an earthquake in 1907, a spring formed in the mountains above the area. Spring water now feeds into the Rockfort Mineral Baths located at the site of the fort.[1]


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  1. ^ a b c d e Polly Thomas; Adam Vaitilingam; Polly Rodger Brown (2003). The Rough Guide to Jamaica. Rough Guides. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-84353-111-1.
  2. ^ a b "Jamaica - Rockfort". Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Kingston, national capital, Jamaica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 28 May 2018.[non-tertiary source needed]
  4. ^ "Visit Jamaica - Rockfort". Visit Jamaica. Retrieved 28 May 2018.