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History: During the second half of the eighteenth century the stock-farmers penetrated as far as the Fish River and Algoa Bay fell within the sphere of encounters between the Boers and the Xhosa. In 1799, after the Third Xhosa War had ended in an unsatisfactory armistice, and while the unrest caused by the so-called Van Jaarsveld Rebellion against the British Government still disturbed the Graaff-Reinet district, Fort Frederick was built to the east of Baken’s River. It was actually built not so much for defence against the Xhosa as to provide a military post from which a wary eye could be kept on the activities of the burghers of Graaff-Reinet and at the same time to guard the landing-place of Algoa Bay.
In August, 1799, a blockhouse was built near the crossing of the Baken’s River to safeguard the water supply. On the eminence above, a stone fort, 24 metres square, with 3 metre high walls, was afterwards built. It was named after Frederick, Duke of York, and the first offic in command of the fort was Major Lemoine who was posted there in January, 1800 with 350 soldiers by General Dundas. After the British troops had left the fort in 1802, it was temporarily occupied by Thomas Ignatius Ferreira and a group of burghers. At that time two missionaries, Dr. Van der Kemp and the Rev. Jame Read, sought refuge there against the natives.
In May, 1803, General Janssens, who had taken over the government at the Cape on behalf of the Batavian Republic, visited Fort Frederick and there stationed a garrison of 150 men of the Waldeck Regiment under the command of Major Von Gilten. According to Janssen’s description there were several buildings round the fort: a barracks, an officers’ residence, a commandant’s house, a food store, a smithy, a bakery and a carpenter’s shop. The fort contained eight 12-pounder guns, and there was enough room in the magazine inside the fort for 900 kg of powder. Round about the fort there were palisades that served as cattle-kraals.
After Von Gilten’s departure Captain Ludwig Alberti became the commanding officer. Alberti lived there even after he became the first Landdrost of Uitenhage in 1804, and in his time the fort was, from the point of view of the food supply, almost self-supporting because the soldiers diligently cultivated a garden. In 1806 Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Cuyler succeeded Alberti, and in 1816 the command of the fort was transferred to Capt Francis Evatt of the 21st regiment of the Light Dragoons. Evatt remained the commanding officer until his death in 1850. He was buried in the Settlers’ Cemetery in Russel Road. It was he who supervised the landing of the British Settlers at Algoa Bay in 1820.
Since 1868 the fort has not been occupied and it fell into disrepair. In 1889 it was transferred to the City Council together with an area of 4 hectares around it.
In 1931 a bronze plaque was affixed by the Commission, and in 1940 the fort was fenced. At the same time the magazine was provided with a roof. After 1940 the old fort was temporarily used by the Department of Defence, but it has since been thoroughly renovated and handed back to the City Council, who maintain it as a monument.
Proclaimed 1936"
Visual Description: Built overlooking the original lagoon at the mouth of the Baakens River. At the time it was the only stone structure in the district. Named after Frederick, Duke of York, the Fort contains a powder magazine and a guardhouse and originally contained eight twelve pounder guns. The grave of Captain Francis Evatt, who took charge of the landing of the 1820 Settlers, lies to the north of the Fort.
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Condition: Good
Construction Date: 1799
Materials: Stone
Catalogue: Theron 1983, No: A.8.9.1, Significance Category: