In 1941, in preparation for war-time refinery expansion, Fort Clarence was partially dismantled and buried, preserving large sections of the fortification

Dartmouth Refinery and Fort Clarence plaque as seen in 1987(Photo courtesy of the Dartmouth Heritage Museum)

1 / 1 Dartmouth Refinery and Fort Clarence plaque as seen in 1987(Photo courtesy of the Dartmouth Heritage Museum)

The Imperial Oil Dartmouth Terminal (formerly the Imperial Oil Dartmouth Refinery and also known as Imperoyal) is located on the edge of Halifax Harbour in Woodside, Nova Scotia between Downtown Dartmouth and Shearwater.

Founded in 1918, the refinery ceased production in 2013 and is undergoing the skyline-altering process of converting to a terminal.

Only recently demolished, the towers of the Dartmouth Terminal had long been a familiar sight from either the harbour or Pleasant Street.

It is not well known that underneath the Imperial Oil Dartmouth Terminal are the stone remains of Fort Clarence, a colonial Halifax/Dartmouth fortification that dates back originally to the mid-18th century.

According to the historic plaque, designed by Mr. Peter Douglass of Dartmouth, that used to stand at the front entrance of the Dartmouth Refinery; “On this site in 1754 the Eastern Battery of a strong defence system for Halifax was constructed to discourage enemy vessels from coming up the South Eastern Passage. Later a Martello tower was added. However, the years of the struggle for Canada passed without an assault on Halifax. In 1798 fortifications which stood on this site were renamed Fort Clarence, after the Duke of Clarence, later William IV. In 1866-70 the fort was rebuilt in masonry at a cost of £55,835. This plaque in tribute to the industry and vigilance of the first citizens of this district was unveiled by the Hon. Henry D. Hicks Premier of Nova Scotia on the occasion of the opening of the new units at the Imperial Oil Refinery October 11th 1956."

Searching the photography collections of the online archives of the Glenbow Museum will result in finding several pictures of the Dartmouth Refinery and Fort Clarence, illustrating its large and commanding footprint.

In 1941, in preparation for war-time refinery expansion, Fort Clarence was partially dismantled and buried, preserving large sections of the fortification.

From time to time, pieces of Fort Clarence have been uncovered during work on the property.

According to Dartmouth’s late town historian, Dr. John P. Martin, on page 355 of his Story of Dartmouth, “building stone from the fortress at Louisbourg ... was later used in the extensive works at Fort Clarence in the Eastern Passage. It is no doubt still in the vicinity. Much of the stone is now under the main road near Avenues “A” and “B” where the Imperial Oil Company built a retaining wall in 1917. This has since been buried by the Highway Department. More stone from demolished Fort Clarence may be seen in the breakwater near the shore, and also around the village.”

Fort Clarence has significant archaeological potential.

According to Nova Scotia’s Special Places Protection Act, “no person shall knowingly destroy, desecrate, deface or alter archaeological or historical remains or a palaeontological site whether designated or not unless holds a heritage research permit to excavate the specific site.”

It is hoped that archaeological work is carried out at the Imperial Oil Dartmouth Terminal, if Fort Clarence is to be further disturbed.

David Jones is an archaeologist and historian from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Thursdays at Noon, David Jones has a weekly thirty minute history segment on The Rick Howe Show, NEWS 95.7.