Fort Willoughby, U.S. Virgin Islands

"Fort Willoughby" redirects here. For the fortress in Suriname previously called Fort Willoughby, see Fort Zeelandia (Paramaribo).

Fort Willoughby (previously Prince Frederik's Battery) is a historic fort on Hassel Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Fort Willoughby
Hassel Island, U.S. Virgin Islands
Remains of Fort Willoughby
Site information
Type	Fortification
Owner	U.S. Virgin Island's government
Open to the public	Yes
Location
Fort Willoughby Location in the Caribbean
Coordinates	18.1933°N 64.5549°W / 18.1933; -64.5549
Area	Hassel Island Historic District
Site history
Built	1777-1780
In use	No
Materials	Stone

The fort was built in 1777-1780 by the Danish, who originally named it Prince Frederik's Battery.^[1] At that time, Hassel Island was part of the Danish West Indies. During their first occupation of the Danish West Indies (1801-1802), the British took over the fort and renamed it Fort Willoughby.^[2] The British used the fort again during their second occupation of the Danish West Indies (1807-1815).^[2]

Originally, the fort consisted of parapet wall, gun platform, barracks, magazine, and storeroom, as well as kitchen, cistern, and privy.^[3] Today, the remains of the fort consist of the remnants of the magazine, barracks, and cistern.^[4]

Fort Willoughby is protected within the Virgin Islands National Park.^[5] It contributes to the Hassel Island Historic District,^[6] which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.^[1][7]