Fort Dundas, located in the parish of Trelawny behind the Rio Bueno Primary School, is a historical fortification dating back to the late 18th century. The date 1778, carved into one of the stones near the arched entrance, suggests this was the period of its construction, likely by local landowners and tradesmen. In 1800, amid concerns over Jamaica’s vulnerability to possible attacks from nearby Cuba, then-Governor Lord Balcarres saw the strategic importance of Fort Dundas and incorporated it into the island’s defensive network.
Named in honor of Henry Dundas, the British Secretary of War, Fort Dundas was designed in a unique fan shape, with defensive features that reflected the era’s military architecture. The fort’s wall was built to be particularly robust, with eight embrasures—openings designed to mount cannons—that faced the sea and the bay, allowing for a clear line of defense against any approaching threats. Additionally, small loopholes were strategically placed in the fort’s w…
