Porto da Cruz (fort)
Original title: Forte do Porto da Cruz
Short account of the fort of Porto da Cruz, built in 1708 and dismantled in 1804, with a note on the Fort of Santo António at Paul do Mar, built in 1754.
It dates from 1708 and was built above the bay. In 1804 it was dismantled, and its garrison was sent to work on clearing the Ribeira de Machico (‘Machico stream’).
In 1713 João de Vasconcelos Uzel was appointed captain of this fort.
Fort of Santo António (St Anthony of Padua) at Paul do Mar (‘marsh by the sea’). It was built in 1754. A warrant (provisão) of the Council of War of 1761 ordered one more pipa (wine cask and measure, c. 400–500 litres) of wine to be added for the master gunner (condestável) to the annual salary of 12$ set when the post was created.
- The fort of São João Baptista at Machico was built; the fort of Porto da Cruz is also dated to this year.
- João de Vasconcelos Uzel was appointed captain of the Porto da Cruz fort.
- The Fort of Santo António at Paul do Mar was built.
- A Council of War provision added a pipe of wine to the annual pay of the Paul do Mar fort's master gunner.
- The Porto da Cruz fort was dismantled and its garrison sent to clear the Ribeira de Machico.