Status:
Open to public. Unstaffed.
What:
Historic monuments; canons, gravesites, colonial military buildings; views
Cost:
There are no fees to enter the Morne Fortune sites, but if you enjoy these sites, please donate towards the upkeep here or Purchase our digital self-guided explorer tour for $25.
Location:
Top of the Morne above Castries
Opening Times;
Monday – Sunday 9am – 5pm
Rules:
Take nothing with you except what you came with, your photos, memories. Leave nothing behind.
Contact: 1 – 758 452 5005, info@slunatrust.org
There are numerous sights of interest in this area including: the old colonial buildings that now house the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College; the Four Apostles Guns, (where you can stand on the exact geographic coordinates of 14N 61W, considered the location of Saint Lucia); the old English and French Cemeteries; the Powder Magazine – the oldest building (on the morne?); and, from more recent history, the Iniskilling Regiment and the graves of the island’s two Nobel Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis – Economics, and Sir Derek Walcott – Literature.
The site was fortified in 1768 after the French transferred their main settlement town from the exposed Vigie Hill to the present-day location of Saint Lucia’s capital, Castries.
Most of the earliest buildings no longer exist, with only four of French origin remaining on the Morne – the Powder Magazine and three of the Guard Cells. Similarly, many of the British-built buildings have also been lost or damaged. For example, the Pavilion, residence of the Governor, was destroyed in a hurricane of 1817. The remaining buildings on the Morne were built during the latter part of the 19th century.
In the late 1800s, Morne Fortuné served as a garrison to defend the Castries Harbour, which was then a coaling station. In 1906 the British garrison left Morne Fortuné.
Morne Battery (Apostles Battery)
Situated above the eastern side of Morne Road, at the exact official coordinates of Saint Lucia – 14N 61W – is the Morne Battery. The official War Office name for the site is Morne Battery, but it is better known as the Apostles Battery, believed to be a reference to the four 9-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns which could shoot nearly 6 miles! These guns were installed in 1892 to protect Castries Harbour. When the site was abandoned in 1905, the guns were discarded over the abutments until 2015. In 2015, the Saint Lucia National Trust remounted the guns, with assistance from an Godfrey Weir, a British civil engineer seconded from People & Places to the National Trust.
The Powder Magazine
The Powder Magazine and Guard Cells, built by the French during the period of 1763 – 1765, are the oldest existing buildings on Morne Fortuné.
The Powder Magazine was built with 3ft thick walls for the storing of gunpowder /ammunition. The design is unique among powder magazines in Saint Lucia. The six buttresses and thick walls increase structural strength to protect the incendiary contents from being exploded under enemy attack.
27th Inniskilling Regiment of Foot
This regiment of the British Army originated in Co Fermanagh, Ireland in 1689. Its very first overseas posting was in 1701 to the West Indies.
The capture of St Lucia in 1796 was the second time the 27th Regiment was involved in the capture of the island. The first was in 1778, but the island was later returned to France.
General Abercrombie credited the 27th Inniskilling Regiment with playing a vital part in Saint Lucia’s recapture after many months of colonial forces being held off by rebel forces determined not to be retaken by the English who had not yet abolished enslavement.
The French and British Cemeteries
These are the burial grounds of French and British soldiers and civilians on the Morne. The only visible sign of the French burial ground near to the British Cemetery are two nameless tombs. In the British cemetery lay some of the past Governors of St. Lucia. The last Governor to be buried there was Sir Ira Simmons in 1974. This was also the burial grounds of a few civilians, military personnel and their families. The earliest known grave is that of “Emillia, wife of Major-General, Alex Wood, C.M.G.” who died on November 8th, 1810. There were also mass graves at this site, of persons who died from epidemics of Yellow Fever, Cholera etc.
Prevost Redoubt & the Guard Cells
Prevost Redoubt was named after General Prevost, who was the Lieutenant Governor of the island from 1798-1802. This area served as a look out point where a few men were stationed with muskets. From this site, the view of the entire Castries Harbour, the Vigie Peninsula, Rat Island and Pigeon Island gave it the reputation of being an ideal look out point.
The Guard Cells served as jail cells for soldiers and are situated next to the stables, which were also built during the period of 1763 – 1765.
