Thousands of convicts worked on it. At one time it provided 15 percent of all income in Bermuda and it was a symbol of British power.

Now 200 years since British sailors moved into the Royal Naval Dockyard and it became a strategic port to withstand the Americans, this point at the west end of Bermuda will become the Island's national museum.

But not happy to rest there, Dr. Edward Harris, the executive director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum (BMM), said they would try to list the Dockyard and all Bermuda fortifications as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

"These buildings are of international importance and we intend to approach Government to apply to UNESCO to include the fortifications at Dockyard and all the other fortifications outside of St. George's."

According to Dr. Harris not only should Dockyard strive to be part of UNESCO but also the forts that line the forested pathways along the Island.

Dr. Harris said Dockyard started out being built by freemen and slaves bringing lime, but there was not enough manpower.

"So from 1823 onwards there were 9,000 convicts that came in and out over a 200-year period. All these buildings are built out of Bermuda stone — hard rock on the Walsingham formations. The Dockyard is the only place in Bermuda where the hard stone was in great quarryable amounts.

"And so there were hills and mountains of hard stone all blasted away in 1809 giving a clear yard for the dockyard and the fortifications."

Construction started in 1809 and continued until 1875, but before construction could begin those living in the area had to be moved out — though they were paid for their land.

But it was not all bad news and because of the massive construction project the area became a source of income for those living nearby, creating a building boom not really seen until recent times.

More than 1,000 Bermudians were employed here at one time in the 19th Century and accounted for more than 15 percent of Bermuda's income.

It was not only the rock beneath their feet, but the wind in their hair which promised the west end tip of Bermuda would become a bastion of British power.

"The prevailing wind is from the West so the enemy entering from St. George's would have made their way up to Dockyard against the prevailing wind," said Dr Harris.

"The fleet sitting here at Grassy Bay could bear down on them quite quickly. The advantage is never having to get out of the harbour quickly."

These winds also led to the creation of the Bermuda Rig, which is world famous in sailing circles and which was created on the Island in the 17th Century.

That was not the only first for this end of the Island Commissioner's House was the first house in the world to use cast-iron framing.

But more than a history lesson, the National Museum and the Dockyard environs can provide a lift for tourism, according to Dr. Harris.

He cites the work done by Parks Department planner Andrew Pettit on Fort St. Catherine, which is being renovated, to put it back on the tourist map.

"People are delighted it's going to become a public museum. We should be doing anything we can to open these sites.

"The heritage sites are the reason people come to Bermuda and I include in those the natural heritage. Unfortunately we just haven't put the energy in preserving them.

"Other places make a big deal about preserving their building work and making it accessible to the public. These are the things the man in the family want to see.

"If you want to keep people in Bermuda (for example) the forts of Bermuda will take three days to see."