Fort Winneba was a slave fort designed to facilitate the trade in enslaved people. The Royal African Company built the fort in 1694,[1] on the Gold Coast, in modern-day Ghana.
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William Smith, who had been appointed to review the Company's castles in Africa following disturbing reports that they were unprofitable, in 1727 surveyed the fort. He described it as follows:
- "(...) the next Day [we] anchor'd at Winneba in Five Fathom Water. Here we were supplied with pure fresh Water from out of their Tank, and tho' we had drawn several Tons of it, I could not perceive we had lowerd it Six Inches, from whence I concluded the Tank at Winneba has a Spring in it, the bottom being all a Rock . This Fort is exactly the same Plan and Dimensions as Tantumquery, nor is the Landing-Place any better. The Fort stands on a rising Ground about Fourteen Yards from the Seaside, having a handsome Avenue of Trees up to the Outer Gate. Here is also a large Spurr, which contributes very much to the Strength and Usefulness of the Fort, being a safe Place to secure their Cattle at Night from the Wild Beasts. Here also are very good Gardens; all which together render the Place pleasant and Comfortable enough"[2]: 133–4
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References
edit- ^ Owusu-Ansah, David (2014). Historical Dictionary of Ghana. Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield. p. xxxvii. ISBN 978-0-8108-7242-4.
- ^ Smith, William (1745). A new voyage to Guinea (Second ed.). London: John Nourse.