Fort Rodd Hill

Fort Rodd Hill (1894-1956) - An Endicott Period Canadian Coastal Fort first established in 1894 . Named after Adm. John Rashleigh Rodd. Deactivated in 1956.

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Battery Belmont Gun & BC Post from Below

Fort Rodd Hill Entrance Sign

Fort Rodd Hill History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Victoria and Esquimalt Harbors.

The Canadian Harbors at Victoria and Esquimalt were protected by five separate gun batteries with emplaced naval guns starting in 1878. In 1893 an agreement with Great Britain established for a common defense of both harbors. The result of this agreement was the construction of two forts, Fort Rodd Hill on west side of the entrance to Esquimalt Harbor and Fort Macaulay on the east side of Esquimalt Harbor at the entrance to Victoria Harbor, the work being undertaken by a detachment of twenty Sappers from the 18th (Fortress) Company of Royal Engineers sent from Halifax, whose job was to demolish the old earth and wood batteries, then lay out and direct the building of the new concrete and earth forts.

Fort Macaulay was the site of one of the five existing batteries and was armed with three, 7" rifled muzzle loaded (RML) guns. Fort Rodd Hill was a new fort built on a rock bluff at the harbor entrance. Both forts were to mount three, 6" disappearing breech loaded (BL) coastal defense guns in modern reinforced concrete gun emplacements, the work being performed by the Marine Artillery.

This plan coincided with the construction of similar but more extensive American fortifications during the Endicott Period across the Straits of San Juan De Fuca at Fort Worden, Fort Casey (1) and Fort Flagler for the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound.

Endicott Period

Fort Rodd Hill Endicott Period Battery (edit list)

Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years	Battery Cost	Notes
Fort Rodd Hill Upper Battery	1	6"	Disappearing	1895-1941	£ ?
Fort Rodd Hill Lower Battery	2	6"	Disappearing	1895-1942	£4419
Battery Belmont	2 1	12-pounder Twin 6-pounder	Pedestal Pedestal	1900-1944 1944-1956	£ ?
Source: CDSG

Upper Searchlight Building

World War II

90mm AA Gun

Current Status

Now a part of Fort Rodd Hill, Parks Canada park. Period guns and carriages in place.

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Location: Fort Rodd Hill Parks Canada Park, British Columbia. Maps & Images Lat: 48.4323 Long: -123.4504 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: ....'

Sources:

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Rodd Hill
• Wikipedia - Fort Rodd Hill

Visited: 22 Jun 2009

Fort Rodd Hill Picture Gallery

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