Fort Charles

Initial construction of Fort Charles began as early as the 1630s, with the aim of protecting Charlestown and its harbour. Mounting 26 cannons, Fort Charles was the main fort on the island, although there were numerous other, smaller gun emplacements. The reason for all of these fortifications was the protection of Nevis' lucrative sugar trade, which at one time was more profitable for Britain than all of the North American colonies combined.

In 1706, the entire island was overrun by French forces under Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. During this action, Fort Charles was outflanked and taken from the landward entrance. Many of the cannon on the island were disabled by the French prior to their leaving.

In 1782, the fort elected to hold its fire when French Admiral Count François de Grasse passed within range on his way to Saint Kitts; the French fleet was vastly superior to Nevisian defenses. The entire island of Nevis subsequently surrendered to de Grasse without a shot, allowing him to lay siege to Brimstone Hill on Saint Kitts. During this period, Fort Charles was briefly garrisoned by a small French garrison, and all available guns were removed for use against the British forces on St. Christopher. De Grasse managed to capture Saint Christopher, but the Treaty of Paris returned both Saint Christopher and Nevis to Britain. Two other attacks on Nevis were repulsed by French forces under Jérôme Bonaparte in 1805 and 1806.

By 1854, all forts on Nevis had been abandoned. Remains of old walls, cisterns, powder magazines and a few cannons.