Penetanguishene Naval Yard

Penetanguishene Naval Yard was a Royal Navy yard from 1834 to 1856 in Ontario.

Penetanguishene Naval Yard
Penetanguishene, Ontario
Type	Shipyard, dockyard
Site information
Controlled by	Royal Navy
Site history
Built	1813
In use	1813 — 1856
Battles/wars	War of 1812
Garrison information
Garrison	Lake Huron base for Provincial Marine/RN 1813-1834; British Army base 1834-1856

The yard was originally located at the Wasaga Blockhouse in Drummond Island after the abandonment of Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard. Land was acquired in 1798 and a base finally built in 1813, but it was abandoned in 1815. It was reinstated in 1816 and remained on the island until 1834.

The base was later relocated near the Nottawasaga River at Discovery Bay in 1816 and served as the Lake Huron fleet of the Provincial Marine until 1834. The navy transferred the base to the army and served until 1856. The base also served northwestern supply routes and provided general surveillance of the upper Great Lakes.

The navy base and army depot comprise 15 buildings, including:

• officers barracks
• warehouses
• offices
• King's Wharf
• 3 storehouse

Vessels built or stationed here:

• Bee - gun boat
• Minos - gun boat
• Mohawk - steamer
• Tecumseh - schooner
• Newash - brigantine
• Mosquito - gunboat
• Wasp - gunboat
• unnamed frigate 1814

The base is now rebuilt as part of the Penetanguishene's Historic Naval and Military Establishment. B. Napier Simpson, Jr. 1925-1978, a restoration architect in Ontario devoted his professional life to raising public awareness of the importance of heritage conservation including the Penetanguishene's Historic Naval and Military Establishment. project, now known as Discovery Harbour.

See also

• Siege of Detroit
• Rush–Bagot Treaty

References

• Canadian Historical Naval Ships and Yards
• The History of Penetanguishene
• Ships from the age of sail
• The Naval and Military Establishments
• HMS Bee
• List of Vessels Employed on British Naval Service on the Great Lakes, 1755-1875