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Location DB > Canada > Nova Scotia > Halifax > Prince of Wales Tower
 Name
Prince of Wales Tower
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by tribeachpunk on 3/14/2007 7:45 PM
last modified by tribeachpunk on 1/27/2011 9:19 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Prince of Wales Tower aka Martello Tower.

This National Historic Site of Canada is part of the Halifax Defence Complex.

Built in 1796-97 to protect British batteries from French attack, the Prince of Wales Tower was the first tower of its type in North America.

 Basic Information
Type: Fortification
Status: Outdoor/Seasonal
Accessibility: Easy/Hard; open seasonally
Recommendation: interesting
 Physical Information
Address
Point Pleasant Park
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
Owner: Parks Canada
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • n/a
  •  Interesting Features
    Architectural features and significance as a defensive structure.
     Security Measures
  • locked doors
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1796
    Closed: 1945
     Required Equipment
  • n/a
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    The forts and batteries erected around Point Pleasant Park were primarily intended to prevent enemy ships from getting into the Halifax Harbour or into the North West Arm, which runs behind the west side of the city.

    In 1792, the threat of an immediate French attack alerted the British military in Halifax to the possibility of a landing in the harbour and, that summer, batteries were built on the point. For the next thirty years, the Point Pleasant forts formed the first line of the Halifax Harbour defences.

    In 1796-97, Edward, Duke of Kent, ordered construction of a Martello tower to be built on high ground behind the point, a location capable of defending the point batteries. The Prince of Wales Tower, named after Edward's eldest brother, is a squat, round structure built of stone, almost three times as wide as it is high. The original construction allowed for six mounted guns on the roof and four guns on the second storey. The second storey was intended for barrack use and the ground floor for storage. Several modifications were made over the next seventy years. Although the tower ceased to be important for military purposes in the late 19th century, some of the other forts on the point continued to be used by the military until the close of the Second World War.

    An important side effect of the military interest in Point Pleasant was the preservation of the large tract of land owned by the crown. In 1866, the military offered the park to the city on a 999-year lease for an annual rent of one shilling. Point Pleasant Park is now used for a variety of recreational purposes. The 200-year-old Prince of Wales Tower stands as a silent reminder of earlier days. The public is now able to walk around the tower, visit the rooms inside, and learn more about its long history.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans

     Stories


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     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Brents
    Sat, May 13th, 2006
    posted by BeaverBanker
    1 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    03/05/2007
    Mon, Mar 5th, 2007
    posted by tribeachpunk
    3 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Historical
    Sun, Mar 29th, 2009
    posted by nootz
    2 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    HRMits trip 09
    Mon, Aug 2nd, 2010
    posted by Jonnie B
    12 pictures


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     Web Links
  • An Online Virtual & Historical Tour of Halifax
  • Parks Canada - Prince of Wales Tower
  • Point Pleasant Park map
  • Halifax UrbEx: Point Pleasant Park
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     Moderator Rating
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     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by tribeachpunk on 4/13/2011 12:16 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Apr 13 11 at 12:16, tribeachpunk validated this location
  • on Apr 13 11 at 12:15, tribeachpunk updated gallery picture
  • on Apr 13 11 at 12:15, tribeachpunk updated gallery picture Prince of Wales Martello Tower
  • on Apr 13 11 at 12:14, tribeachpunk updated gallery picture martellotower.jpg
  • on Apr 13 11 at 12:14, tribeachpunk updated gallery picture Prince of Wales Martello Tower
  • on Apr 13 11 at 12:14, tribeachpunk added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Jan 27 11 at 21:19, tribeachpunk validated this location
  • on Jan 27 11 at 21:19, tribeachpunk changed the following: Web Links
  • on Aug 21 10 at 17:19, tribeachpunk validated this location
  • on Aug 21 10 at 13:47, Jonnie B updated gallery picture IMG_0755.JPG
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