A view of the stockaded town once known as "Wiltwyck"
Stockaded communities were common in North America until the late 18th century. They were seen as a necessity when inhabitants, fearful of the native people on whose land they were infringing, posed both real and imagined threats to their safety. The Kingston stockade is an example of one such structure. One can only imagine the vast area of forest required to provide enough timber to circumscribe a community of this size. Never the less the daunting task of building these walls was undertaken in the 1650s under Dutch rule and completed years later when the town was controlled by the English. Wooden stockades as it turned out were not very durable. The effects of harsh weather and constant insect infestations diminished their usefulness. As the walls deteriorated residents often were inclined to create their own passageways out. Many felt that the stockade was a convenient source of firewood during the winter months. As the Indian threat faded so too the need to maintain perimeter defenses and the era of the stockade came gradually to an end.
Image size approximate
Type: Giclée Edition ~ Signed & Numbered Prints
Image size: 18 x 28 inches
Price: 225.00
