Contributed by Lance Furbert, Curator of Forts and Historic sites Bermuda was discovered by Spanish mariner, Juan Bermudez, in the early 1500s, but it was the shipwreck of the English ship, the Sea Venture, in 1609, which led to the colonisation of the Island. In 1612, Governor Richard Moore and approximately sixty settlers arrived in Bermuda and settled on St. George's Island. After building small cabins in the area where the Town of St. George now stands, Governor Moore immediately began to build forts to defend the new English settlement. The building of fortifications on the east coast of St. George's eliminated the need for a palisade around the Town and allowed St. George's to develop in a way which is unique among New World settlements. The oldest and most impressive British fortifications in the New World were constructed around the coast of St. George's and from 1612 to 1956 the forts, and the soldiers who manned them, played a significant role in the development of the Town. The town and the forts of St. George's are once again linked as a result of World Heritage Status for the "Historic Town of St. George and Related Fortifications.'' The magnificent fortifications and massive guns which were a part of the defense system that protected St. George's, offer an intriguing look into over 300 years of Bermuda's history. At the western end of St.

George's Island there are three forts. Burnt Point Fort was built by Governor Sir Robert Robinson in 1688 and is one of the oldest forts on the mainland.

Continue on page 25 Forts Continued from page 24 Ferry Island Fort at the top of Ferry Island was built to protect the horse ferry which was the main means of transportation between St. George's and the mainland until 1871.

The Martello Tower built in 1823, was the only such tower to be built in Bermuda and was the first fort to be built of hard Bermuda stone.

To the north of the tower is the Ferry Point Magazine. The forts at the western end of St. George's are open to the public as are the forts on the old military road at the eastern end of the island.

Gate's Fort, which was built in the 1620s, was used at different times as a magazine, a barracks, and as a home for a local family.

Alexandra Battery stands next to Frobisher's Buildings Bay where the ship, the Deliverance, was built in 1610. An iron gun emplacement and a 9-inch rifled muzzle loading gun from the 1860s remain at the fort along with gun emplacements and an interesting system of underground storerooms from the 1890s.

A mile north of Alexandra Battery is St. Catherine's Fort which is next to Gate's Bay, the landing place of the Sea Venture castaways in 1609.

St. Catherine's Fort is now a museum with exhibits that include dioramas highlighting Bermuda's early history; a restored magazine; weapons of all sizes from pistols to large muzzles loading guns; the British Crown Jewels in replica; and an audiovisual presentation on Bermuda's many forts.

Other forts in the area that are not presently open to the public are Forts Victoria and Albert, Fort William, Fort George, Fort Cunningham on Paget Island, and the extraordinary early forts at the entrance to Castle Harbour.

Inscription as a World Heritage Site results in world recognition of the historic monuments of St. George's and celebrates the preservation of almost 400 years of heritage in Bermuda.