HISTORY
The building was
planned in 1785 (the year after Nelson arrived in English Harbour
as Captain of HMS BOREAS) and completed in 1788.
The ground floor was used to store pitch, turpentine and lead,
and there were offices for the engineers of the Dockyard upstairs.
The brick passageway at the entrance divided brick-lined pits
used for storing the pitch, which was in barrels.
Some original pitch marks may still be seen at the foot of the
stairs.
The bricks used in the building were brought over from England
as ship's ballast, and it is said that the ballast used on the
return trip was mostly rum.
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The bar counter top is an original
Workshop bench top found elsewhere in the Dockyard.
One can still make out various ships' names carved on it by
the Seamen of the time.
| H.M.S. BULLFROG |
a corvette
built in 1867 |
| H.M.S. FOX |
A 5th rate
46 gun frigate, built in 1829 |
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H.M.S. CANADA
in the dockyard in April, 1882.
This is the ship King
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George V was serving on as midshipmen whilst at English
Harbour.
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The ship's plan
behind the bar is of Nelson's ship,
H M S BOREAS (meaning "the North Wind"), a 142 foot
28 gun frigate built at Hull.
This plan is a photographic copy of the original Admiralty draft
of this vessel.
Every ship had to leave a draft submitted to their Lordships of
the Admiralty for approval of design.
The frame surrounding the plans is of lignum vitae, and is an
original door frame from one of the entrances to the building.
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The round pillars
on the grounds once supported a large boat house with a sail
loft above.
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The plans of this building may be seen in the museum.
The roof was destroyed by earthquake in 1871, and concrete caps
were placed on each pillar to prevent erosion.
If you are interested in the progress of the restoration of
the rest of this historic Dockyard, please visit the office
of the National Park Authority, upstairs in the museum building
Officer's Quarterad to accept any donations and give information.
Each guest is asked to pay a small fee to enter the Dockyard
initially.
This will be added to
your bill and paid to the National Park Authority.
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