English Harbour After the English
colonized Antigua in 1632, the Royal Navy began using English Harbour as a safe haven. The harbour's position on the south side of Antigua island facilitated the monitoring of neighbouring islands, and the harbour was naturally well-suited to protect ships and cargo from hurricanes. Fortification of the harbor began in the 18th century. The first reference to the defense of English Harbour occurs in 1704, when
Fort Berkeley was listed as one of the island's forts established around the coast of Antigua. Fort Berkeley was built on a peninsula at the entrance to English Harbour. and in September of that year the harbour gained a reputation as a safe natural harbour when a hurricane swept ashore 35 ships lying in other ports in Antigua, while and , both moored in English Harbour, suffered no damage. Soon British naval officers petitioned for the building of repair and maintenance facilities in English Harbour. In 1725, the English Harbour became a focal point for the establishment of a
naval base.
Naval Dockyard construction Construction of the modern Naval Dockyard began in the mid-1740s, on the western side of English Harbour.
Enslaved Africans from plantations in the vicinity were sent to work on the dockyard. By 1745 a line of wooden storehouses had been constructed (on the site of the present-day Copper & Lumber Store Hotel). During this time, land was reclaimed for the construction of
wharves. additional storerooms, a kitchen, a shelter for the Commander's “chaise”, and the first part of the present Saw Pit Shed. the first bay of the Canvas, Cordage, and Clothing Store was built; Many of the buildings in the Dockyard today were constructed during a building programme undertaken between 1785 and 1794. The Engineer's House and the Pitch and Tar Store were built in 1785. The Engineer's Offices were built (and the Dockyard wall was extended to include them) in 1788. (adjacent to the Engineer's Offices and Tar and Pitch Store); the pillars are still visible today.
Restoration The Society of the Friends of English Harbour began restoration of the dockyard in 1951, and in 1961 it was re-opened to the public. Among the original buildings are two hotels, a museum, craft and food shops, restaurants, and a large marina. In 2023, Nelson's Dockyard was featured on an episode of
BBC's The Apprentice. ==Gallery==