Royal Naval Dockyard
With their defeat in the American War of Independence the British lost the use of the ports of its former colonies. To compensate work began in 1809 at Bermuda’s Ireland Island on the construction of the ‘Gibraltar of the West’, the Royal Naval Dockyard. The work was carried out using both slaves and convicts shipped from England. Of 9,000 convicts shipped to Bermuda, approximately 2,000 perished during construction, many from yellow fever.
The Royal Naval Dockyard remained a major Atlantic outpost for the British Royal Navy until 1951, when most of the facility was closed. A limited number of buildings and facilities remained opened for the support of British and NATO ships until complete closure in 1995.
Since then the location has been transformed into one of Bermuda’s most popular tourist areas. The former Keep became the Bermuda Maritime Museum and Dolphin Quest, whilst the Royal Navy’s administrative headquarters are now a shopping centre, the Clocktower Mall. The Cooperage, originally used for making barrels, is now home to the Frog and Onion Pub, the Bermuda Art Centre, the Bermuda Craft Market and the Neptune Cinema. Buildings previously used for repair work, munitions storage etc. now house the Bermuda Clayworks, Bermuda Rum Cake Company and Dockyard Glassworks.
Near to the ferry terminal there's the Visitor Information Centre. Its friendly staff are happy to answer questions and can supply informative brochures and guides.
The Royal Naval Dockyard is one of the ports used by cruise ships visiting Bermuda and is the venue for the annual Bermuda Jazz Festival. Windjammer Watersports operate from here offering snorkelling safaris and other aquatic adventures. Oleander Cycles has a branch here and rents scooters.
Royal Naval Dockyard is in Sandys Parish and can be reached from Hamilton by bus or ferry. Admission to the Royal Naval Dockyard is free.
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