The British built a big fort on this hill in the early 1600s. The French, prompted by their American colonial allies who wanted to keep the British busy while they consolidated their revolution, captured and held it for a little while in 1792 before the fortifications were fully completed. The British got it back two years later in a treaty. Slave labour was used to construct it over a period of about 100 years. The British abandoned it in the 1830s once slavery was outlawed. It fell into ruin, as did the then unprofitable plantations. The St. Kitts government has done a good job at a partial restoration of the citadel and main bastion. Sometimes called the "Gibralter of the Caribbean", the fortress in truth is not nearly as impressive as the massive fortifications the Spanish built in old San Juan or Cartagena Columbia. It is, however, well worth a visit.