A fort that has never seen its guns fired in anger may soon have them ringing out as part of a demonstration to bring the Island?s history to life for visitors.

The Ministry of Environment has announced a $300,000 to $400,000 reconstruction project for the Island?s 35 forts as part of an effort to restore Bermuda?s cultural heritage and boost tourism.

At Fort Scaur, a replica gun mount will be installed where the original used to stand. Plans are afoot to use the 64-pound rifle muzzle-loader gun for live firing demonstrations ? using gun powder instead of live shells. Men in uniform may also be used to complete the presentation.

Park Planner Drew Pettit said: ?The intent is to try and create a live firing programme much like they do at the Town Cut Battery (in St. George?s), where they do a firing programme for tourists to show the action of the gun and they use gun powder to make the noise.?

According to Mr. Pettit, visitors to the fort will be able to ?hear and feel the action of the gun?. The installation of the gun is currently in its early stages, and is expected to be completed by March 2007.

Fort Scaur is particularly unique because of an action called the ?disappearing gun mount?, which allowed the shooter to hide in the gun pit and fire from there, explained Mr. Pettit, adding: ?so this is truly an exciting type of gun mount not just a static display.?

According to historian Andy Bermingham the fort, constructed in1869 by the British was one of the last built on the Island and was used to protect Dockyard from a possible invasion from America. At that point there were two guns but they were never fired in anger, and most likely only used for practice. The fort was only in use for a short period ? the guns were removed in 1904 and the park was abandoned later that year and used as a gun park to store equipment.

In other projects, work has already been completed at Fort George on renovating the two existing 11-inch Rifled Muzzle Loader guns which were fabricated by the Royal Gun Factory at Woolwich Arsenal, London, in 1871.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield explained at a press conference earlier this week: ?These guns are important not only in providing historical context of the site, but are unique and likely two of the only surviving 11 inch RML guns left on their original mounts in the world.?

In addition, the guns at St. David?s Battery are being renovated, and the eastern flank wall is being repaired at Fort St. Catherine.

While there are no firm plans at this time to have a live firing demonstration at the other forts, Mr. Pettit said this may eventually take place at Fort St. Catherine.

Explaining the importance of the project earlier this week, Ms Butterfield said: ?Bermuda has one of the richest heritages of any country in the western hemisphere. It is a proud heritage that dates back some 500 years. Part of that special heritage involves our unique forts and the purpose they served in fortifying Bermuda against various enemies during the 18th and 19th centuries.?