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 | |
H.M.S. CANADA
in the dockyard
in April, 1882.
This is the ship King |
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. |
The
round pillars on the grounds once supported a large boat house with a sail loft
above.
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 buildingOfficer'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. |
