Kingston Fortifications

The site of the Royal Naval Dockyard during the War of 1812, Kingston assumed even greater strategic importance as the southern terminus of the Rideau Canal, which was built between 1826 and 1832. An extensive fortification plan of redoubts, towers, and batteries was developed to protect the dockyard and entrance to the canal, but only Fort Henry was actually built. In response to the Oregon Crisis with the United States in 1845-1846, four Martello towers and the Market Battery, which stood on this site, were constructed between 1846 and 1848.

L’importance stratégique de Kingston, qui abritait le chantier naval royal pendant la guerre de 1812, s’accrut lorsqu’elle devint le terminus sud du canal Rideau, creusé entre 1826 et 1832. On établit un vaste plan de fortification comportant des redoutes, des tours et des batteries pour protéger le chantier naval et l’entrée du canal, mais seul le fort Henry fut construit. Par suite de la crise de l’Orégon, conflit avec les États- Unis survenu en 1845-1846, quatre tours Martello ainsi que la batterie du Marché, établie en ce lieu, furent construites entre 1846 et 1848.