FORT RODD HILL &

FISGARD LIGHTHOUSE,

British Columbia, CANADA

by

Gary B. Speck

 

Beginning in the middle 1800s, coastal defense fortifications bristled at strategic points along the coastline of both the United States and Canada.  One of these fortifications overlooked the entrance to the harbor at Victoria, British Columbia, on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island.  It was originally built by the British in 1878, and operated by them until 1906, when they turned the base over to Canadian forces.  It is located 14 km (8.4 miles) west of downtown Victoria.

 

Fort Rodd Hill is one of the best preserved examples of British Coastal Defense Forts in the world.  Now a National Historic Site, this fort consists of original structures, with minimal restoration. The park also includes the c1860 Fisgard Lighthouse, the first lighthouse on Canada=s west coast. 

 

Fort Rodd Hill is a living history museum, historical displays, audio posts and interpretive signs all bring to life the story of this magnificent military ghost.  

 

            The story of Fort Rodd Hill begins in Colonial British Columbia when defense of the natural harbors at Victoria and Esquimalt was needed.  In 1878, artillery batteries were built on both sides of Esquimalt Harbor’s entrance.  Fort Rodd Hill was on the west while Fort Macaulay guarded the east AND the west side of Victoria Harbor.  The present configuration of the fort was built in the 1890s. 

 

Passing through the massive gate and past the c1895 guardhouse with its audio display, the upper battery overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  The battery’s sunken concrete walls were built in 1895-1897.  Today, mounted in firing position on a rebuilt firing platform, is one of three of the original six-inch disappearing guns that once graced the bulwarks of the fort. After firing their 100-pound shells up to six miles, these five ton guns could be cranked down to the lower level, where they would be reloaded and lifted back into firing position. It would take a crew of eight men about two minutes to run the gun through one complete cycle.

 

Other items of interest in the upper battery include the underground ammunition magazine, the commander’s firing post, an electric light directing station, guardhouse, telephone exchange and a 7000 gallon water tank that could supply the battery for several days.

 

Located between the upper and the lower batteries is a two-story brick structure built in 1897 to billet non-commissioned (NCO) and warrant officers.  It later served as an officer=s mess.  Just to the west is a single-story, white, wooden building, which was the officers’ quarters.  Behind the NCO quarters, a squat jail-like building housed the fitter, which was similar to a blacksmith.  On the hill above was the battery commander’s post.

 

Just south and hidden behind some trees is the Belmont Battery.  It was built between 1898 and 1900, and consisted of guns, a lookout tower and searchlight electrical generation plant.  The guns were two, rapid-fire, single-barreled, 12-pounders mounted on the top of the wall.  They could fire about 15 rounds per minute at smaller, fast moving boats such as torpedo boats, that could dodge the slow, but nasty six-inch guns.  The rapid-fire guns were also located on the other batteries in the entire multi-fort V-E Fortress complex.  In 1944, they were replaced by double-barrel six-pounders that could fire up to 72 rounds per minute.

 

The electrical generating plant was capable of generating enough power to light up all 17 of the V-E Fortress’ searchlights at the same time. 

 

At the lower battery, two more six-inch guns were mounted, along with another underground magazine.  This was the largest of the post’s three batteries, containing a canteen and casemate barracks housing most of the troops. The canteen was a popular spot for the post’s soldiers; a place where they could hang out with their buddies, or purchase drinks and snacks.  The barracks housed up to 54 soldiers, and contained a food and fuel storage facility, kitchen, latrine and washhouse.  A small parade field was also located here.

 

On the north end of the battery, a well-protected bunker deep under the walls housed the map room, the nerve center for the post.  From here firing directions could be given to the batteries, throughout the V-E Fortress complex. 

 

Scattered across the fort are camouflaged searchlight emplacements, one of which looks like a small beach fishing shack.

 

On a small islet just offshore from the lower battery, and connected to the shore by a narrow, man-made peninsula, the Fisgard Lighthouse marked the rocks at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbor.  It was built in 1860, and is part of the Historical Site complex.  It is a still-operating lighthouse, but has been automated since 1929.  Two other buildings on the lighthouse islet include a wooden, white-painted and reconstructed boathouse, along with a bright red, storehouse and water tank, which has also been reconstructed.  Water was collected off a flat roof and stored in a cistern under the structure.

 

Parks Canada has done an outstanding job of preserving both Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse as one National Historic Site.

 

This was our Ghost Town of the Month for August 2009

 

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FIRST POSTED:  August 03, 2009

LAST UPDATED: September 03, 2009

 

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