 The Rooms which houses the Art Gallery, the Provincial Archives and the Provincial Museum, of Newfoundland and Labrador now stands on this site

Because of the vulnerability of Fort William to artillery fire from Signal Hill, Fort Townshend was built between 1775-1779 to secure St John's from attacks, from the French, as well as from American privateers.The vulnerability of Fort William had been revealed when the French captured it in 1762, The American Revolution had increased the need to improve St. John's defences.By 17779 Colonel Robert Pringle of the Royal Engineers, and Commandant of the garrison, had completed the construction of Fort Townshend, which Governor Lord Shuldham had begun in 1773.