Fort Amherst, St. John's

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Fort Amherst is a small community within St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located at 47°33′51″N, 52°41′08″W, on the southern side of "The Narrows", the entrance to St. John's harbor. Apart from some family dwellings, Fort Amherst consists of a man-made harbor,[1] a lighthouse[2] and the remains of gun emplacements built during World War II to defend against German U-boats.[3]

Fort Amherst, showing the lighthouse and WWII fortifications, as seen fron Signal Hill
Fort Amherst, showing the lighthouse and WWII fortifications, as seen fron Signal Hill

The original fortifications at Fort Amherst, built in the 1770s, are no longer visible.[3] The fortifications were named for William Amherst[4], who successfully recaptured St. John's from French forces in 1762 [5]

The name is shared with Port La-Joye / Fort Amherst in Prince Edward Island and Fort Amherst in England.

The first lighthouse in Newfoundland was built at Fort Amherst in 1810.[6]. The current lighthouse was built in 1951.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fort Amherst small boat harbor. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
  2. ^ a b Fort Amherst lighthouse. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
  3. ^ a b Fort Amherst history. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
  4. ^ The Grand Concourse: Plans Presented for Fort Amherst. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
  5. ^ [ngb.chebucto.org/Articles/amherst-1762.shtml The Recapture of St. John's, Newfoundland in 1762]. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
  6. ^ Historic sites around St.Johns. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.

Coordinates: 47°33′48.96″N 52°40′49.60″W / 47.5636, -52.6804444

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