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York Redoubt

September 09, 2021  •  Leave a Comment

Halifax and Halifax Harbour has been heavily defended from naval attack for hundreds of years. Many of the bunkers and guns are still visible to this date.

I hadn't visited York Redoubt, one of the many harbour defenses, for several years. I took the opportunity to visit briefly on my tour of the east side of the Chebucto Peninsula.

 

York Redoubt

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York Redoubt
York Redoubt.jpg
View at York Redoubt showing its commanding view over the approaches to Halifax Harbour
Location Ferguson's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
Coordinates 44°35′47.7″N 63°33′8.78″WCoordinates: 44°35′47.7″N 63°33′8.78″W
Built 1793
Governing body Parks Canada
 
Official name York Redoubt National Historic Site of Canada
Designated 1962
York Redoubt is located in Nova Scotia
York Redoubt
Location of York Redoubt in Nova Scotia

York Redoubt is a redoubt situated on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour at Ferguson's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada, originally constructed in 1793. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1962.[1]

History[edit]

An anti-submarine net running between York Redoubt and McNab's Island in 1942

York Redoubt was a key element in the defence of Halifax Harbour in the 19th and 20th centuries, and saw many additions to its fortifications. It was a command centre for the local harbour defences in World War II, which included observation posts, a defensive minefield and a new gun battery below the fort at Sleepy Cove covering the anti-submarine net which stretched across the harbour's entrance from Fort McNab on McNabs Island. York Redoubt remained in military use until 1956.

Buildings in the redoubt complex include what remains of the Duke of York's Martello tower, built in 1798; other fortifications from around 1800 and 1900; and advanced fortifications and artillery from World War II. York Redoubt has many examples of rifled muzzle loader cannon from the 1870s period. An open-air collection of unmounted cannon within the fort has several pieces of artillery of various periods, including a large 9.62-inch breech loader that had been mounted at the Sandwich Point battery, part of the York Redoubt complex.

Structures at the water's edge at Sleepy Cove battery, now closed to the public, include three search light batteries, two concrete lookout towers and two gun emplacements which originally held two 12-pounder guns, but were later replaced with 6 pounder guns.

On 28 June 1985, Canada Post issued "York Redoubt, N.S.", one of the twenty stamps in the "Forts Across Canada Series" (1983 & 1985).[2]

Sandwich Point Battery[edit]

Sandwich point battery

The series of four gun emplacements was constructed during World War I one kilometre away from the main fort at York Redoubt to protect the approaches to Halifax Harbour. During World War II the two dated 9.2-inch breech-loading guns were removed, but the two 6-inch breech-loaders were retained throughout the war. The battery is currently derelict and completely contained within Department of National Defence fenced land (home to Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School) and is strictly off limits to the public (gates restrict road access to Gas Lane via Fire and Smoke Roads from John Bracken Drive).

See also[edit]

 

York Redoubt 107York Redoubt 107

York Redoubt 108York Redoubt 108 York Redoubt 110York Redoubt 110 York Redoubt 109York Redoubt 109 York Redoubt 100York Redoubt 100 York Redoubt 111York Redoubt 111 York Redoubt 112York Redoubt 112 York Redoubt 102York Redoubt 102 York Redoubt 103York Redoubt 103 York Redoubt 113jpgYork Redoubt 113jpg York Redoubt 104York Redoubt 104 York Redoubt 114York Redoubt 114 York Redoubt 115York Redoubt 115 York Redoubt 116York Redoubt 116 York Redoubt 117York Redoubt 117 York Redoubt 119York Redoubt 119 York Redoubt 118York Redoubt 118 York Redoubt 101York Redoubt 101


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