Fort Wellington – A historic sentinel along the St. Lawrence River

Buildings inside Fort Wellington (L-R): Latrine, Officers’ Quarters, Blockhouse. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

October 2022

Fort Wellington National Historic Site is a historic military fortification, situated along the St. Lawrence River, in Prescott, Ontario, that once made-up part of the defence of British North America.

Built towards the end of the War of 1812, when American forces attempted to take control of the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada, the modern-day Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Prescott was only a mile across the St. Lawrence River from Ogdensburg, New York, and vulnerable to attack from American forces.

Fort Wellington was completed in 1814, but as the war ended shortly afterwards, it was abandoned by the British Army. The property was maintained by the Board of Ordnance and when the Rebellions of 1837-1838 broke out, a new fort was built on top of the earthworks of the old fort. Upon completion, Fort Wellington became the main depot for the militia in the Prescott area.

The British Army maintained the fort as a training camp for their soldiers and Canadian Militia until 1863, when it was turned over to the exclusive use by the militia.

Although it was primarily used for training, a garrison was stationed at the fort during the Fenian Raids of 1866.

During World War I, fort Wellington was used as a depot for soldiers for travelling between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, with many on their way to the fighting in Europe being temporarily housed in the barracks.

The militia continued to use the fort until 1923, when it was turned over to the Dominion Parks Branch, now known as Parks Canada. Unlike other fortifications of its age in Ontario, Fort Wellington was never directly attacked.

It now operates as a museum and historical centre. The buildings that remain inside the fort are the three-storey blockhouse, built in 1839, along with the officers’ quarters latrine, the cookhouse and the guardhouse. The ramparts feature a cannon in each corner; an original 24-pounder that dates back to the original fort, two 12-pounders, a 36-pounder carronade over the gate and two 14-inch mortars on the parade square behind the south rampart facade.

During the summer, Fort Wellington is open most days from the Victoria Day weekend until Labour Day. The buildings are restored, and uniformed guides conduct tours of the fortifications and buildings, including the storerooms and barracks in the blockhouse. A military museum is located on the third floor of the blockhouse. A new Visitor Centre was completed in 2012 and showcases a gunboat wreck along with exhibits about the fort’s history.

: Fort Wellington. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Palisade surrounding the fort, with the earthworks behind it. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Earth Ramparts surrounding the fortPhoto: Bruce Forsyth.

: One of the artillery cannons. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: The Caponniere, a small fortified room in the dry ditch, just past the south Rampart. It’s accessed through a small tunnel. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Guardroom and armoury on the first floor of the Blockhouse. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Storage room on the first floor of the Blockhouse. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Dry storage room on the first floor of the Blockhouse. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Gun powder storage room on the first floor of the Blockhouse. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Married Mens’ Quarters on the second floor of the Blockhouse, west side. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Eating area in the Married Mens’ Quarters on the second floor of the Blockhouse, east side. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.

: Formerly used as the Married Mens’ Quarters on the second floor of the Blockhouse, east side, now used to display artifacts. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.