Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse, B.C.

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site are both located about 25 minutes from Victoria, B.C. The location of Rodd Hill, where the fort is located, was named after John Ashleigh Rodd who was a First Lieutenant on the HMS Fisgard and was promoted over time to admiral. The site consists of an 18th century artillery fort as well as Fisgard Lighthouse.

The area where the fort is located is at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour which was first used in the 1840’s by the British Royal Navy for anchorage and then in 1862 as a permanent base for the Royal Navy’s Pacific Squadron when they moved here from Chile. Guns were first set up here in 1864 to protect the harbour, however it wasn’t until 1866 when the Colony of Vancouver Island became part of British Columbia that there became a need to build a permanent coastal defense system to protect the naval base in the harbour. The British and Canadian governments both contributed to the building of the fort after reaching an agreement in 1893. Between 1894 and 1897 Fort Rodd Hill was completed and 75 Royal Marine Artillerymen moved into the barracks.

The Royal Marine Artillerymen, and later the Royal Garrison Artillery, helped train the local Canadian militia in the effective use of the guns that were here, which led to them winning national competitions. By the time World War Two happened the guns that were here were considered outdated and so they were replaced in 1944. None of the artillery at the fort was ever used to fire upon an enemy. In 1958 Fort Rodd Hill became a National Historic Site.

For me the highlight at this location is definitely the Fisgard Lighthouse. Set on a short peninsula and rising above a hill with the blue water and sky surrounding it, this lighthouse has got to be high on the list of most scenic lighthouses.

Built in the 1860, this lighthouse was the first in Canada, and helped to guide ships safely into Esquimalt Harbour and Victoria Harbour. The brick and stone used to build the lighthouse were from local quarries, however the lens and lamp were brought from England by the first lighthouse keeper, Mr. George Davies, in 1859. The lighthouse was named after the HMS Fisgard, a British Navy ship that spent time in the area to help determine if Fort Victoria would make a good capital for the province of British Columbia.

The lighthouse was originally surrounded by the harbour water, however in 1950-51 the causeway was built to more easily access the lighthouse.

The Fisgard Lighthouse was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1958. The tower now has a battery-powered electric light and is still used as an important beacon for sailors and crewman navigating these waters.