King's Castle, Bermuda

King's Castle
Bermuda
Location
Location:	32°20’25"N, 64°40’15"W
History
	Built 1612
Information

King's Castle is a stone fortress standing at the eastern point of Castle Island in Bermuda, guarding the sea passage into Castle Harbour, the capacious water in the heart of Bermuda. This castle gives a name to the island which and to the harbour.

The castle was built in 1612, and is the oldest standing English fortification in the Americas, and oldest stone building still in existence in Bermuda. The castle was the site of the successful defence of Bermuda from Spanish attack in 1614.

This fortress is part the string of fortifications known today as the 'Castle Islands Fortifications', which are spread across several of the islands strung across the south entrance of Castle Harbour, Bermuda. The islands were fortified in the early days of the territory, hence the harbour's name.

History

King's Castle is, today, the oldest surviving English fortification in the New World. It is Bermuda's oldest standing stone building, predating the State House. Its Captain's House, built a year after the State House, in 1621, is the oldest stone home in Bermuda. It is also the oldest standing English house in the New World.

In 1614, King's Castle famously repulsed Spain's only ever attack on Bermuda. Two shots were fired from its artillery. Although neither struck, the Spanish vessel abandoned the attack (its crew did not realise that the gunners in the fort had only enough ammunition for one more shot).

The fortress was used as late as the Second World War by Bermuda's military garrison, with soldiers living in tents within its walls, watching over the channels with machine guns.