Fort Charlotte, Military ruins on Harrigan's Hill in Road Town, British Virgin Islands
Fort Charlotte consists of military ruins located on high ground above Road Town, with standing wall sections, a water cistern, and underground storage chambers. The remains form a stone relic of late 18th-century British defensive architecture.
The British Royal Engineers built the fort in 1794 on the site of an earlier wooden stockade constructed by privateer Joost van Dyk. This construction responded to the need for stronger maritime defense in the region.
The fort is named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of England. This naming reflects the British rule of the period and connects this location to the history of the English monarchy.
Access to the ruins is via a hiking trail from Macnamara, as the site sits on private property. Wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for the elevation gain when making the ascent.
The fort was part of a triangular defense network with Fort Burt and Fort George that monitored the harbor below. These three fortifications worked together as a coordinated maritime protection system.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
