PORTCULLIS LIMITED
A non-stock, non-profit, non-governmental, exempt corporation

     With your help, and the cooperation and oversight of the Grenada National Trust, and others interested in Grenada's cultural heritage, we plan to restore Fort George.  The first step is to remove brush and weeds from around the fort.  Grenada’s tropical climate and considerable rainfall produce what can only be referred to as lush tropical vegetation.  The photograph of the west hornwork bastion and epaulement shows what grows in just one rainy season.  Unfortunately, and unless otherwise controlled, the root systems of the vegetation will penetrate the walls and destroy the mortar joints. Once cleaned, the walls must be kept clear of plant life.  The plants, shrubs and grasses are mixed common species found throughout the island and will be eliminated in an environmentally responsible manner.  The areas surrounding the fort, some 5 acres, including a Victorian bandstand, will be restored and landscaped for continued recreational use by visitors and the local population.  Preparations are being made to reestablish the 18th century Jardin du Roi to actually grow food for visitor and staff consumption.

     The next task is the repointing of walls and wall-caps to insure that water does not continue to get into the walls, either to wash out mortar or support vegetation.  Repointing will likely be done by local masons, trained to a world standard in the art of historic masonry preservation by the Historic Preservation Training Center, National Park Service. The training is to be provided under contract to Portcullis Limited rather than to the government of Grenada, and will not be at US taxpayer expense. Masonry repair will be an ongoing task, even after the trainers have left and the fort is open to the public.  Meanwhile, Grenadian carpenters, under the same training program, will begin work on the roof and floor systems of the barracks buildings and the old hospital. This work has been made more urgent by destruction caused by hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

    The older of the two artillery barracks, ca. 1710, now called the south or long barracks, needs less work than originally expected as the original roof structure shows no insect damage and most of the floor joists are sound.  The framing is currently being tested to establish the wood species used in the amazingly resilient construction.  The interior of the newer, short, or east barracks ca. 1800, is sound in the roof structure and framing but the upper-floor joists, some 18 pieces of 3x12 with beading, are in the description of our inspector, "sawdust held together by paint", clearly the work of Grenada’s subterranean termites.  Some of the wooden shutters and remaining doors of the long barracks are 18th century work and in many cases the old milk paint, wrought nails with leather washers, iron strap hinges, pintles and hooks are still in good condition.

    While all of this restoration activity is going on, museum designers will be adapting the upper floors of both barracks for displays related to military and naval history to include a restored sleeping area (also used for school and guest overnights) uniforms, weapons and accoutrements and other military and naval impedimenta such as flags and banners, or reproductions thereof, dating from 1649 through 1983.  Some of the existing cannon and mortars (22 original pieces at last count), will be mounted on new wooden garrison or field carriages, as required.  The lower floors of the barracks are already divided into large rooms which will be refurbished as an 18th century carpenter shop and cooperage, a ration stores room, to include a rum ration for those so inclined, a domestic area (weaving, washing, sewing, uniform repair, dress making) an ordnance stores room leading to the magazine (deep in the southeast bastion) a school room, duty officer’s office and sleeping quarters and a chapel. The cooks, bakers, black and whitesmiths will perch on the terrepleins and bastions in order to dissipate heat produced by the cooking fires, bread ovens and the forge.  Should the British appear on the horizon, the fort being interpreted as it would have appeared during the second French occupation, all can be cleared away before they can get within range.  An on-going archeological dig in the rehabilitated parade lawn will be available for regular viewing.

    In addition to the civilian interpreters staffing the fort, we will be training Grenadians to interpret the soldiers who could have been found at the fort between 1779 and 1782.  Those men were the first Free Black troops in the annals of the French army.  They arrived in Grenada from Savannah, Georgia on the first of December, 1779.

    After all training, structural and mechanical activities are finished, a fresh coat of appropriate paint or wash will freshen up the barracks, the little guard, the old hospital and interior faces of the citadel.  We can then open; and will await your visit.

    In answer to a frequently asked question, parking can be a major problem at popular tourist attractions, but the cruise ships in which most visitors come to Grenada, have plenty of room to park, either alongside or in the stream where lighters ferry passengers to shore.  There will be no parking in the fort forecourt, but cruise-ship passengers can walk or take a shuttle to the fort, which is less than half-a-mile from the pier and landing. Hotel guests can take a pleasant 10 minute taxi ride with knowledgeable drivers.  Given that our elderly staff are experienced travellers; benches, areas shielded from the sun, and public conveniences are first on the list of tasks to be accomplished.  More FAQs follow.

Information last updated: 20 April, 2005 Ó Portcullis Limited. USA 1999 - 2003 - 2005