Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua’s most iconic heritage site, is celebrating its 300th anniversary, marking three centuries since the English Harbour naval base was formally established.

The Dockyard was created on September 25, 1725, when the Antigua Legislature passed an act granting land for use by the British Navy. Designed as a safe harbour to protect warships from hurricanes and piracy, the site became a hub of naval strategy and maritime enterprise for nearly two centuries.

From 1725 to 1899, the Royal Navy expanded the harbour’s fortifications, leaving behind landmarks such as Shirley Heights, Fort Berkeley, Fort Charlotte, and Blockhouse. The naval complex reflected Georgian design but was adapted to Caribbean conditions, built through the combined efforts of European sailors and soldiers alongside free and enslaved Africans.

After the Navy abandoned the site at the end of the 19th century, the Dockyard fell into decline. Its revival began in the 1960s with conservation efforts led by the Friends of English Harbour and the growth of the charter yacht industry. The establishment of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park in 1984 further secured its status, protecting nearly 16 square kilometres of marine and terrestrial landscapes.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dockyard has become a cultural and commercial hub, managed by the National Parks Authority. Officials say its preservation strategy goes beyond restoration, addressing climate change threats such as rising seas and stronger storms while ensuring conservation benefits local communities.

Community initiatives, including the 8th of March Project, have also placed local voices and traditions at the forefront of its interpretation, reinforcing the Dockyard as a living heritage site rather than a relic of the past.

As Antigua and Barbuda commemorates the tricentennial, the Dockyard stands as a symbol of resilience and adaptation, from its origins as a naval stronghold to its present role as a national treasure and international attraction.