With a view to prevent the capture or destruction of the Naval Establishment by an enemy who might have succeeded in effecting a landing, two positions have been selected, viz.: 1st, a line between the head of Hamilton Harbour and the Navy Wells, on the North Shore, called the Prospect Hill position; 2nd, a line between Elie's Harbour and the Great Sound, called the Somerset position.

The Somerset position, being only 500 yards in extent, may be most advantageously defended by a continuous ditch and parapet from shore to shore, with a small keep in the centre, to prevent the position being turned. Plans are now being prepared.

– Wm. F. Drummond Jervois, RE, Report on the Defences of Bermuda, 1869

The middle decade of the 19th century marks one of the greatest turnings of the tide in history, as rifled artillery, firing elongated projectiles, replaced the cannon and cannonballs of former times.

The 1850s ushered in the modern arms race, due to those tremendous technological changes, and was also the beginning of the concept of iron, rather than wooden ships. Those changes shook the world of defence establishments, perhaps like none others until the invention of the atomic bomb, which, instead of ending, only accelerated the arms race and bellicosity between nations.

Out in the western North Atlantic, Bermuda also felt the heat of the changes in guns, ships and fortifications, which vibrated throughout the British Empire. Royal Engineers again descended on the island to assess its defences and to make recommendations for new works for the new age, including at Fort Cunningham, an iron fort to defend the entrance to the Narrows Channel against iron ships.

Out in the west of Bermuda itself, the defenceless situation at the military choke point of Somerset Bridge was of particular concern. Once they had landed on Elbow Beach or another spot on the south coast, and perhaps had a cocktail or two at Coral Beach, the Americans could simply march unopposed through the western parishes, in order to attack the Dockyard at its Land Front.

To counter that threat of invasion, the Somerset Position, consisting of Scaur Hill Fort and a bank and ditch, was proposed and executed in the 1870s. The ditch, which still exists except where it has been filled in under the Somerset Road, cut Somerset Island in two from the Great Sound in the east to Ely's Harbour on the west.

Only two guns were mounted at the new fort and they were on Moncrieff Disappearing Carriages, designed to retract below the parapet when fired. Upon reloading, a great counterweight moved the gun back into its elevated firing position and thus the battle progressed, with the enemy unable to get a "fix" on the gun. Recently a new carriage was made for the fort, only the second such restoration and replication that has taken place on that type of gun in over a century.

Andrew Pettit, the Parks Planner for the Government and supervisor of the project, gave some background to the restoration at Scaur Hill Fort.

"Under the direction of the Ministry of the Environment and Sports, the Department of Parks has made it a priority to restore the forts in the Bermuda Park System. Started in 2006, the Scaur Hill project was, from an historical point, unique to Bermuda and challenging to complete."

"Research indicated that there was little information available for the restoration project. Bermuda seems to have been the only place where the smallest, 64-pounder, Rifled Muzzle Loaders were mounted on Moncrieff Disappearing Carriages with a central 'C' pivot, allowing a 360-degree field of fire.

"We know they existed from written descriptions and an early photograph of an experimental gun mount of that type was supplied by Palmerston Fort Society. Today little pictorial evidence of its complicated gear systems exists, which makes the Scaur Hill gun and its mount truly 'Bermudian'. There is only one similar mount in existence, replicated at Crown Hill Fort in Plymouth some years ago by A. Collin Carpenter, but that carriage is for a much larger gun, so the Bermuda restoration is unique.

"The repair and fabrication of the replica carriage was carried out by Iron Brothers Foundry of Cornwall. Having created the Crown Hill mount, they had a head start with experience, patterns and equipment. AutoCAD drawings were created from original remains and information provided by the Royal Artillery Museum in London and a survey of the gun position at Scaur Hill Fort. After much experimentation, a full-size working replica, acclimatized to Bermuda's harsh climate, was remade for one of the original gun barrels from the Fort.

"It was with relief to see that when it came to installing the new exhibit, the gun mount fitted perfectly into position and we were surprised to see how easily it moved. Once again Fort Scaur is armed and ready to repel boarders. The public is invited to come and see one of the most unique of artillery exhibits anywhere in the world.

"As the Ministry continues its preparation for the upcoming 400th anniversary of Bermuda in 2009, the public can look forward to a restored Fort St. Catherine, in addition to the recent works at the Martello Tower, St. David's Battery, St. David's Lighthouse and Fort George."

In the most uncertain of economic times, the restoration of the Disappearing Gun at Scaur Hill Fort is a goodly investment in the fundamental business of Bermuda: its tourism trade.

More investment of this nature would be a good thing for the island and would pay dividends for many decades to come, regardless of the stock prices of other types of business that, like tourism, are described as international. Unlike bank deposits, the funds placed in heritage assets and institutions, properly invested in project like that at Scaur Hill, will always thus remain in Bermuda, for the benefit of present and future generations.

* * *

Dr. Edward Harris, MBE, JP, FSA, Bermudian, is the Executive Director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum. This article represents his opinions and not necessarily those of persons associated with the Museum. Comments can be sent to drharrislogic.bm or by telephone to 332-5480.