Historical Development of the Fort
Fort Niagara, 1755
- 30 "The Large House" (French Castle), 1726
- 31a Bakehouse, pre-1755
- 401a Addition to Castle
- 401b Addition to Castle
- 403 Quarters, pre-1755
- 404 New Barracks. 1755
- 405 Barraks, pre-1755
- 406 New Barracks, 1755
- 407 Quarters, pre 1755
- 408a Quarters, pre-1755
- 409 Unknown (Garrison Privy?), pre-1755
- 410a Blacksmith Shop?, pre-1755
- 411 Temporary Barracks, 1755
- 412 Temporary Barracks, 1755
The first substantial changes to Fort Niagara occurred during the 1740s. Renewed colonial conflict between 1744 and 1748, usually known as King George's War, again focused attention on the military importance of Niagara. There was still no real concern that cannon would be brought against the post, so the wooden pickets were simply replaced or strengthened in 1740, 1744 and 1745. It is also possible that the stockade was enlarged during that time, and the first description of buildings other than the machicolated house dates to 1743. By 1755 six buildings described as "old" (31a, 403, 405, 407, 408a, and 410a) stood within the stockade near de Lery's stone house.
The 1740s also marked the first mention of a new and insidious enemy. Lake Ontario was eroding the point at an alarming rate. When de Lery returned in 1744 to inspect his creation, he found that erosion had "tumbled nearly half' of the land between the machicolated house and the lake since 1726. The lost ground was probably at the tip of the point and along the lower part of the lakeside embankment and beach. De Lery built the first of many seawalls, but the lake's advance, accelerated by cyclically fluctuating water levels, would not be checked until 1816.
Despite the repairs and additions of the 1740s, Fort Niagara was in wretched condition when war with Britain recommenced in 1754. In 1755 the fortifications were described as "crumbling in every direction" and the ten-foot high stockade was so shaky that it had to be propped up. William Shirley's abortive expedition against Niagara finally prompted French reaction. In September 1755 regular troops were sent to Niagara to construct new defensive works. These were designed and built under the supervision of Captain Pierre Pouchot.
Pouchot arrived at Fort Niagara in October. His first priority was to construct winter quarters for an enlarged garrison. The troops utilized the old stockaded fort, adding new houses (404, 406,411, and 412) built "in the Canadian manner" inside and outside the old walls. Once this had been completed, the new earthen fortifications were laid out east of the old fort.
The initial stage of Pouchot's work was documented in the "Plan Du Fort de Niagara, construit et defendu par M. De Pouchot", included in his Memoires sur la derniere guerre... of 1781. Our plan is based on this work. Pouchot showed the existing fort with his new buildings, two of which were sheltered from attack only by their position between the old stockade and the river bank. The gate appears, by this time, to have been moved to the southeast side of the fort. The location of the massive new earthworks is shown east of the gully.