Historic Sites Protection Act – Historic

Saint John Harbour Defensive Network

Saint John, New Brunswick

View of Saint John Harbour from Fort Howe

View of Saint John Harbour from Fort Howe

Photo: Province of New Brunswick

Built
1631
Recognized
2000
By
Province of New Brunswick

The register’s text, word for word

Description

Saint John Harbour Defensive Network consists of 17 military installations that collectively ring Saint John Harbour. Spanning more than three centuries, the components of the network consist of Fort La Tour (1631), Fort D’Aulnay (1648, in succession referred to as Fort Villebon 1698, Fort Boishebert 1750 and Fort Frederick 1758), Fort Howe (1778), Lower Cove Battery (1793), Prince Edward Battery (1793), Grave Yard Battery (1793), Mortar Battery (1793), Dorchester Blockhouse (1793), Partridge Island Battery (1800), Carleton Martello Tower (1812), Drummond Blockhouse (1812), Johnson Blockhouse (1813), Southeast Battery (1813), Red Head Battery (1864), Negro Point / Fort Dufferin (1864), Courtenay Bay Breakwater Battery (1939) and Fort Mispec (1940).

Heritage value

Saint John Harbour Defensive Network is designated a Provincial Historic Site for the strategic military importance of these sites from the 1600’s through 1945. The designation recognizes the significance of the network, including 17 known installations, that has evolved over time in and around Saint John Harbour related to the defence of the port.

Built over a period of over 350 years, all of these installations protected the strategically important Saint John Harbour at various times of military threat. Each successive threat led to construction of defensive installations reflecting changing naval technologies. This represents considerable heritage and interpretative value relating to the important role of Saint John and its harbour in the history of New Brunswick. The installations are currently in various states, ranging from potential archaeological remains to the well-preserved Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site of Canada.

SourceDepartment Wellness, Culture and Sport - Heritage Branch, Site File: Vol. VIII, 100

Character‑defining elements

The character-defining elements relating to the Saint John Harbour Defensive Network and its strategic military importance in defence of the port include:

  • the distributive nature of the overall network of sites located throughout the inner and outer harbour;
  • the general expanding nature of the network;
  • the differing defences on the sites at various times, as the notion of strategic place changed in reaction to evolving navel and defence technologies;
  • the viewscapes from various component sites that include the harbour and various other sites within the network;
  • the remnant architectural elements and/or structural remains at the various sites;
  • the known and potential archaeological resources;
  • the educational and interpretive value of the overall network and of the individual sites.

End of the register’s text

Location

Perimeter of Saint John Harbour, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2M, Canada

45.27051° N, 66.06981° W

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Nearby

All 385 places in Saint John

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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.