Shirley Heights, Antigua and Barbuda
Shirley Heights is an historic military compound in Antigua. It was built in the 1780s to protect the Naval Dockyard in English Harbour. It is part of Nelson's Dockyard National Park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. History In 1781, Thomas Shirley, recently appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands, urged the local government to fortify the area around and above English Harbour in order to protect the naval Dockyard. By 1788, construction had begun on and around the area known as The Ridge, which overlooked the harbour. The military compound built there became known as Shirley Heights. Between 1781 and 1825, more than 50 structures were built at Shirley Heights. These included a fort (Fort Shirley) with barracks, officers' quarters, powder magazines, guard house, signal station, canteen, and cemetery. The Antiguan government funded construction of Shirley Heights through 1790, after which they refused to continue financing the project. From 1790, the British government funded the completion of the construction, due to growing fears of an attack by the French. In 1803, 700 men on 13 schooners went sent from Guadeloupe to attack Antigua. Their attack was unsuccessful, as they were defeated by a British frigate. This was the