Rockfort (Jamaica)

{{Short description|Former site of 17th century British fort}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}

{{Use Jamaican English|date=March 2019}}

File:On the Rockfort Road LCCN2006685070.jpg titled "On the Rockfort Road" from 1808]]File:Map_showing_the_harbours_of_Port_Royal_and_Kingston%2C_Jamaica_Wellcome_L0063041.jpg

{{For|the community in Kingston|Rockfort (Kingston, Jamaica)}}

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Rockfort,{{efn|It was also historically known as Rock Fort, Rock-Fort, and The Rocks.}} located east of Kingston, Jamaica, in an area previously known as Harbour Head, is the ruins of a 17th century rock fort that was once surrounded by a moat.{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kingston-Jamaica#ref51219 |title=Kingston, national capital, Jamaica |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |access-date=2018-05-28}}{{tertiary source inline|date=May 2018}} First the site of a British rock fort, it was fortified in 1694 to protect the eastern edge of Kingston against an invasion by the French.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jnht.com/site_rockfort.php |title=Jamaica - Rockfort |website=Jamaica National Heritage Trust |access-date=28 May 2018}} To thwart any eastward advance of the Morant Bay Rebellion to Kingston, it was last staffed in 1865. The site that once protected Kingston Harbour is under the administration of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.{{cite web|url=http://www.visitjamaica.com/rockfort|title=Visit Jamaica - Rockfort|website=Visit Jamaica|accessdate=28 May 2018}}

After an earthquake in 1907, a spring formed in the mountains above the area. Spring water now feeds into the Rockfort Mineral Baths located at the site of the fort.{{cite book|author1=Polly Thomas|author2=Adam Vaitilingam|author3=Polly Rodger Brown|title=The Rough Guide to Jamaica|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=99-m-oShXPgC&pg=PA109|year=2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-84353-111-1|page=109}}