At the far end of Fort Bay stands eighteenth-century Fort James (always open; free), built above the cliffs that overlook the entrance to St John's harbour. You can walk or drive around to the south side of the fort, where the main gate is still in place.

Together with Fort Barrington, on the opposite side of the channel and St John's Fort on Rat Island - still visible down the channel - this fort was designed to deter ships from attacking the capital, which had been sacked by French raiders in 1668. Earthworks were first raised in the 1680s, but the bulk of the fort was put up in 1739, when the long enclosing wall was added.

Today, the fort is pretty dilapidated but offers plenty of atmosphere: unkempt, often windswept and providing great views across the channel and back down to St John's harbour. Rusting British cannons from the early 1800s point out to sea and down the channel, their threat long gone but still a dramatic symbol of their era.

Elsewhere, the old powder magazine is still intact, though leaning precariously, and the stone buildings on the fort's upper level - the oldest part of the structure, dating from 1705 - include the master gunner's house, the canteen and the barracks  

 St John's

St. John's
  St John’s
  Getting around
  Eating and drinking
  Nightlife, casino, karaoke
  Airlines, embassies

Exploring St. John's
  Fort Bay
  Fort James
  Long Street
  National Museum
  Redcliffe Quay
  St. John's Cathedral

Antiqua guide

Antiqua
Where to go
When to go
Getting there
Money and costs
Getting around
Food and drink
Phones and post
Best of Antiqua
Holidays and festivals
Tours
Diving and snorkeling
Dive operators
Boats and catamarans
Boat operators
Economy, natural hazards
Antiqua brief history

Exploring Antiqua
- Barbuda:
  Getting there
  Beyond Cordrington
  Great Fort George
  Falmouth Harbour
  River Fort
  Cordrington

- Falmouth and English
  Harbour
  Eating, drinking, nightlife
  Falmouth
  Nelson's Dockyard, Shirley
  Heights, Pigeon Beach

- From Runaway Bay to
   Half Moon Bay
  Eating, drinking, nightlife
  Betty's Hope to Long Bay
  Half Moon Bay
  Runaway & Dickenson Bay

- West coast