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Fort William
Fort William
Vijay Durg
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
	Fort William, a view from the inside, c. 1828
Site information
Type	Fortress, garrisoned and armoured army headquarters.
Controlled by	Bengal Subah (before 1757); British East India Company (1757–1858); British Raj (1858–1947); Indian Army (1947–present);
Location
	Fort William
Coordinates	22°33′28″N 88°20′17″E / 22.5577°N 88.3380°E
Site history
Built	1696–1702; 324 years ago
In use	1781–present
Battles/wars	Battle of Plassey (1757)
Garrison information
Garrison	Eastern Command

Fort William, officially Vijay Durg, is a fort in Hastings, Calcutta (Kolkata).^[1] It was built during the early years of Britain's administration of Bengal. It sits on the eastern banks of the River Hooghly, the major distributary of the River Ganga. One of Kolkata's most enduring British-era military fortifications, other than those in Bombay (Mumbai) and Madras (Chennai), it extends over an area of seventy hectares.

The fort was named after King William III.^[2] In front of the Fort is the Maidan, the largest park in the country. An internal guard room became the Black Hole of Calcutta. Today the fort is the headquarters of Eastern Command of the Indian Army.

History

There are two Fort Williams. The original fort was built in the year 1696 by the British East India Company under the orders of Sir John Goldsborough which took a decade to complete. The permission was granted by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.^[3]^[4] Sir Charles Eyre started construction near the bank of the Hooghly River with the South-East Bastion and the adjacent walls. It was named after King William III in 1700. John Beard, Eyre's successor, added the North-East Bastion in 1701, and in 1702 started the construction of the Government House (Factory, see Factory (trading post)) at the centre of the fort. Construction ended in 1706.^[5] The original building had two stories and projecting wings. In 1756, the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj Ud Daulah, attacked the Fort, temporarily conquered the city, and changed its name to Alinagar. This led the British to build a new fort in the Maidan. Robert Clive started rebuilding the fort in 1758, after the Battle of Plassey (1757); construction was completed in 1781 at a cost of approximately two million pounds. The area around the Fort was cleared, and the Maidan became "the Lungs of Kolkata". It stretches for around 3 km in the north–south direction and is around 1 km wide.^[5] The headquarters of the Indian Ordnance Factories was established in 1775 at Fort William.^[6]

Today, Fort William is the property of the Indian Army. The headquarters of Eastern Command is based there, with provisions for accommodating 10,000 army personnel. The Army guards it heavily, and civilian entry is restricted.^[5]

Much of Fort William is unchanged, but St Peter's Church, which used to serve as a chaplaincy centre for the British citizens of Kolkata, is now a library for the troops of HQ Eastern Command. A major part of the land parcel is home to the family of Army.

A war memorial has been created at the entrance of the fort, and the fort also houses a museum which displays artifacts from the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, especially those related to the battles in the Eastern sector and the Bangladesh Liberation War.^[7]^[8]

The fort was officially renamed to Vijay Durg, in honour of the oldest fort along Maharashtra's Sindhudurg coast, in 2025.^[9]

First Indian Masonic lodge

In 1730, Ralph Farrwinter and other members of the East India Company opened the first Indian Masonic lodge, a short time after the creation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717.^[10]^[11]

Presidency of Fort William

Structure

The Fort is built of brick and mortar in the shape of an irregular octagon with an area of 5 km² (1.9 sq mi). Five of its sides face landward, and three towards the Hooghly River. The design is that of a star fort, suited to defence against cannon firing solid shot, and dates from before the advent of explosive shells. A dry moat 9 metres (30 ft) deep and 15 m (49 ft) broad surrounds the fort. The moat can be flooded but is designed as an area in which to use enfilade (or flanking) fire against any attackers reaching the walls. There are six gates: Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta, Water Gate, St Georges and the Treasury Gate. There are similar forts at places like Thalassery in Kerala.^[12]^{[full citation needed]}

Gallery

Fort William, 1735
Fort William, by Jan Van Ryne, 1754
Fort William, Calcutta, 1756^[13]
First English Chapel, Fort William, Calcutta. Raised in 1714, with contribution of Rs. 1000 by the East India Company (p. 197, March 1824)^[14]
St Peter's Church, Fort William by William Prinsep 1835
Fort William, River Face 1786 (from a coloured engraving by Thomas Daniell).
The interior of the Arsenal, Fort William by William Prinsep 1835
Fort William by Samuel Davis
Main entrance, Fort William 2013
South gate, Fort William 2013
St. Peter's Church, Fort William, Kolkata
Semaphore Tower, Fort William, Kolkata
Main Gates of Fort William

References

^ "Fort William, Army's Eastern HQ, renamed Vijay Durg". THE HINDU. The Hindu. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
^ Krishna Dutta (2003). Calcutta: A Cultural and Literary History. Signal Books. p. 71. ISBN 9781902669595.
^ Sudip Bhattacharya, Unseen Enemy: The English, Disease, and Medicine in Colonial Bengal, 1617 – 1847, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 30 Jun 2014, p.54
^ "Fort William Kolkata India - History of Fort William". www.makemytrip.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c Verma, Amrit (1985). Forts of India. New Delhi: The Director of Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. pp. 101–3. ISBN 81-230-1002-8.
^ "History | Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services) | Government of India". Ddpdoo.gov.in. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
^ "Memories of 1971 Bangladesh War come alive in Army museum". Economic Times. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
^ "Indian Army to throw parts of Eastern Command HQ open for public". Economic Times. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
^ "Fort William, Army's Eastern HQ, renamed Vijay Durg". The Hindu. 5 February 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ Simon Deschamps (2017). "Merchant and Masonic Networks in Eighteenth-Century Colonial India". L'Empire (in English and French). 74 (74). doi:10.4000/1718.828. ISSN 0291-3798. OCLC 7288589062.
^ Joseph F. G. Golder. Freemasonry in British India (1728–1888). Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.
^ Nandakumar Koroth, History of Forts in North Malabar
^ Grant, James (1873). British Battles On Land and Sea. Vol. II. Cassell & Company, Limited. p. 69.
^ "The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle". The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. 94 (1): 197. February 1824. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

[1] "Fort William, Army's Eastern HQ, renamed Vijay Durg". THE HINDU. The Hindu. Retrieved 27 April 2026.

[2] Krishna Dutta (2003). Calcutta: A Cultural and Literary History. Signal Books. p. 71. ISBN 9781902669595.

[3] Sudip Bhattacharya, Unseen Enemy: The English, Disease, and Medicine in Colonial Bengal, 1617 – 1847, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 30 Jun 2014, p.54

[4] "Fort William Kolkata India - History of Fort William". www.makemytrip.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2018.

[fort-5] Verma, Amrit (1985). Forts of India. New Delhi: The Director of Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. pp. 101–3. ISBN 81-230-1002-8.

[6] "History | Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services) | Government of India". Ddpdoo.gov.in. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.

[7] "Memories of 1971 Bangladesh War come alive in Army museum". Economic Times. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2020.

[8] "Indian Army to throw parts of Eastern Command HQ open for public". Economic Times. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2020.

[9] "Fort William, Army's Eastern HQ, renamed Vijay Durg". The Hindu. 5 February 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[10] Simon Deschamps (2017). "Merchant and Masonic Networks in Eighteenth-Century Colonial India". L'Empire (in English and French). 74 (74). doi:10.4000/1718.828. ISSN 0291-3798. OCLC 7288589062.

[11] Joseph F. G. Golder. Freemasonry in British India (1728–1888). Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.

[12] Nandakumar Koroth, History of Forts in North Malabar

[13] Grant, James (1873). British Battles On Land and Sea. Vol. II. Cassell & Company, Limited. p. 69.

[Gentleman1824-14] "The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle". The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. 94 (1): 197. February 1824. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

v t e Forts in India
Ahom dynasty	Talatal Ghar Kareng Ghar Rang Ghar Garchuk Lachit Garh
Bahmani Sultanate	Bidar Gulbarga
British Raj	Anchuthengu St. George William Bombay Riwa Worli Mazagon Sion Hillock Sewri Mahim Tellicherry St. David
Deccan sultanates	Ahmednagar Daulatabad Gawilghur Golconda Jalna Fort Narnala Panhala
Delhi Sultanate	Aligarh Bandhavgarh Hathras Qila Mubarak Siri Tughlaqabad Salimgarh
Eastern Ganga dynasty	Barabati Raibania
Faruqi dynasty	Asirgarh Laling Thalner
Gujarat Sultanate	Bhadra
Jat	Bawana Fort Gohad Lohagarh Nahar Singh Mahal Deeg Palace Qila Mubarak (Patiala) Gobindgarh Kuchesar Phillaur Rajgarh Hindaun
Kakatiya dynasty	Warangal
Kingdom of Mysore	Devanahalli Palakkad Bekal Sankagiri
Malwa Sultanate	Mandsaur Mandavgadh
Maratha Empire	Dongri Harishchandragad Kolaba Lohagad Sudhagad Sinhagad Tikona Panhala Pratapgad Vishalgad Rajgad Sindhudurg Vijaydurg Shivneri Raigad Gajendragarh Gingee Shaniwar Wada Jhansi Hinglajgarh Manora Visapur Sadashivgad
Mughal Empire	Purana Qila Chanderi Agra Allahabad Fatehpur Sikri Red Akola Hari Parbat Fort Ramnagar
Nayak dynasty	Chitradurga Bekal Dindigul Gingee Tiruchirapalli Rock Chandragiri Fort Hosdurg
Portuguese	Bassein Mahim Arnala Bandra Diu Fort Forte Simbor Emmanuel Anjediva Korlai Madh Tangasseri St. Angelo Pallipuram Aguada Tiracol Anjediva Cranganore Ghodbunder Revdanda Ponda Chapora Tivim Cabo de Rama Corjuem Mormugão Rachol Benastari Castle
Rajput	Achalgarh Amber Bhangarh Chittor Jaigarh Jaisalmer Jalore Junagarh Kankwadi Kumbhalgarh Nahargarh Qila Rai Pithora Taragarh Gwalior Kalinjar Hinglajgarh Mehrangarh Narwar Senapati fortress Sabalgarh Bahu Kangra Ranthambore Bhatner Orchha
Sikh Empire	Kamlah
Siddi	Murud-Janjira Belapur Underi
Sur Empire	Chunar Rohtasgarh Munger
Travancore	Vattakottai Udayagiri East
Vijayanagara	Chandragiri Gingee Bangalore Udayagiri Vellore

v t e Tourist attractions in Kolkata
Colonial	Currency Building Howrah Railway Station Metropolitan Building Fort William National Library Victoria Memorial Shaheed Minar St. John's Church Raj Bhavan New Market Kolkata High Court Shobhabazar Rajbari Prinsep Ghat
Geographical	Hooghly River Rabindra Sarobar Maidan
Religious places	Kalighat Kali Temple Dakshineswar Kali Temple Belur Math Kripamayee Kali Temple Baranagar Math Alambazar Math St. John's Church St. James' Church St. Paul's Cathedral Tipu Sultan Mosque Church of the Lord Jesus South Park Street Cemetery
Cultural	Durga Puja Barowari Pujos Saraswati Puja Kali Puja The Asiatic Society Dol Yatra College Street Esplanade Chowringhee Metro Kolkata Film Festival Jorasanko Thakur Bari Poila Boisakh Chhau dance Football Rabindra Sangeet Kumortuli Sondesh Kolkata Book Fair National Library General Post Office Vintage & Classic Car Rally
Boulevards	AJC Bose Road & APC Road Amherst Street Ballygunge Circular Road Bowbazar Street Camac Street Chittaranjan Avenue College Street Eastern Metropolitan Bypass Gariahat Road Gurusaday Dutta Road Grey Street The Chowringhee Lansdowne Road Mahatma Gandhi Road Mirza Ghalib Street Park Street Prince Anwar Shah Road Rabindra Sarani Raja Nabakrishna Street Raja SC Mullick Road Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Road Rashbehari Avenue Shakespeare Sarani Southern Avenue Strand Road Sudder Street V.I.P. Road Vivekananda Road Jawaharlal Nehru Road B. T. Road
Shopping	New Market College Street (Books) Mani Square South City Mall Quest Mall Forum Mall Other shopping malls Barnoporichoy
Parks, riverfront, zoos and stadiums	Alipore Zoo Central Park Millennium Park Mohor Kunja Aquatica Nicco Park Science City, Kolkata Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (The Great Banyan) Maidan New Town Eco Park Eden Gardens Salt Lake Stadium Race Course Pavilions Netaji Indoor Stadium East Bengal Ground Mohammedan Sporting Ground
Category

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
Other	Yale LUX

Kommunal.az

History

First Indian Masonic lodge

Presidency of Fort William

Structure

Gallery

See also

References

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Fort William
Vijay Durg
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Fort William, a view from the inside, c. 1828
Site information
Type	Fortress, garrisoned and armoured army headquarters.
Controlled by	Bengal Subah (before 1757) British East India Company (1757–1858) British Raj (1858–1947) Indian Army (1947–present)
Location
Fort William
Coordinates	22°33′28″N 88°20′17″E / 22.5577°N 88.3380°E / 22.5577; 88.3380
Site history
Built	1696–1702; 324 years ago (1702)
In use	1781–present
Battles/wars	Battle of Plassey (1757)
Garrison information
Garrison	Eastern Command