Entry Date: 25.04.2024, at 17:00:00 hrs (local)
Barbados - BVI
English Harbour
| PRID: | 12997 |
|---|---|
| LegID: | 356 |
| LegNo: | 101 |
| Latitude: | N017°00.55' |
| Longitude: | W061°45.96' |
| Day#: | 1519 |
| Log (Leg): | 318 nm |
| Log (Total): | 81090 nm |
Horatio Nelson was born in 1758 in Norfolk, England, and joined the Royal Navy at a young age. He quickly rose through the ranks, gaining a reputation for his tactical skills and daring leadership. Nelson is best known for his victories during the Napoleonic Wars, particularly the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he defeated the French and Spanish fleets but tragically lost his life.
The port of English Harbour was named after Nelson in Nelson´s Dockyard in recognition of his contributions to the Royal Navy. Nelson´s presence in the area left a lasting impact, and his name became synonymous with the dockyard and the harbor itself.
The Royal Navy began using English Harbour as a safe haven in the 17th century. In 1704, Fort Berkeley was built on a spit across the harbor entrance to defend it. The Antigua Legislature assigned English Harbour to the King for naval use in 1725, and by 1745, the harbor was fortified. The development of English Harbour as a naval stronghold continued over the years, with the construction of the HM Naval Yard on the eastern side of the harbor in the 1730s. The Yard was expanded across the bay on the western side in the 1740s, and by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, it had become a substantial complex of facilities, including a Victualling Yard, an Ordnance Yard, and a Royal Naval Hospital.
Governor Shirley drew up plans in 1782 to fortify the high ground to the east, leading to the construction of Shirley Heights. Fort Shirley was garrisoned in the 1830s but was abandoned in 1854, leaving the harbor defenseless. Despite its military importance decreasing after 1815, Nelson´s Dockyard remained significant.
After the land was returned to the Antigua government in 1906, the harbor facilities fell into ruin. However, in 1951, Governor Kenneth Blackburne launched a restoration program, which raised funds to restore the dockyard. This restoration effort led to Nelson´s Dockyard becoming an attraction for island visitors in 1961.
Today, visitors to English Harbour can explore Nelson´s Dockyard, a beautifully preserved complex of 18th and 19th-century buildings that once served as a key naval base. The dockyard stands as a testament to Nelson´s legacy and the importance of English Harbour in British naval history.
