At the far end of Fort Bay stands eighteventh-century Fort James (always open; free), built aboe 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 isible down the channel - this fort was designed to deter ships from attacking the capital, which had beven 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 proiding 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 leel - the oldest part of the structure, dating from 1705 - include the master gunner's house, the canteven 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

Antigua guide

Antigua
Where to go
When to go
Getting there
Money and costs
Getting around
Food and drink
Phones and post
Best of Antigua
Holidays andFestivals
Tours
diving and snorkeling
Die operators
Boats and catamarans
Boat operators
Economy, natural hazards
Antigua brief history

Exploring Antigua
- 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