Needham's Fort was built by the British in 1650. The coastal fort was needed to protect Carlisle Bay, where ships loading goods at Bridgetown anchored. It was the time of the English Commonwealth, but Barbados remained loyal to the king in exile. When King Charles II regained the throne in 1660, the name of the fort was changed to Charles Fort. The fort played a key role in the Battle of Barbados in 1665, when Dutch forces attacked and destroyed most of the English fleet in Carlisle Bay. The Dutch also suffered heavy losses and were unable to invade the island.
