This military heritage site is perhaps the most spectacular in Antigua as it still has its full complement of canons in place. The guns in all other forts were all sold for scrap at sixpence/cwt in 1869, thus making Fort James unique. When St. John’s became larger than Falmouth and Parham about 1703, the northern entrance of St. John’s Harbour was fortified. The foundation stone for the present fort was laid with full Masonic honors in 1739. This inscribed stone may still be seen on the easterly corner. Much later, the inscription on this stone was nearly obliterated by some mischievous treasure-hunters, who had hoped to find coins behind it.
