The cannons were part of fortifications constructed at Digby, primarily to protect the town from privateers in three separate eras: the American Revolution (1775-1783), the British-French War (ca. 1793) and the War of 1812. The original cannons are now gone, replaced in 1883 by the eight here now, including the six waterfront cannons. The two cast iron cannons were manufactured in Britain during the Victorian era in the 1840s. This, the cannon on the south side of the memorial, has a plaque affixed to its carriage relating a small part of the story of the fortifications and the canons. The cannon to the north is the only one of the eight without a plaque.
The foundry marked this cannon's weight as 59 - 2 - 14, meaning 59 hundredweight plus 2 quarters plus 14 pounds. One hundredweight equaled 112 pounds, and one quarter weight equaled 28 pounds. Thus this cannon should weigh 6678 pounds, not the 4730 pounds indicated on the plaque.
VICTORIAN CANNON
MFD. 1840 WEIGHT 4730 LBS.
DIGBY'S HISTORIC FORTIFICATIONS
THESE TWO CANNONS WERE ORIGINALLY
PART OF THE SEVEN CANNONS LOCATED ON THE
CANNON BANKS NEAR THE FISHERMAN'S WHARF.
THE OTHER FIVE ARE NOW LOCATED ALONG
THE WATERFRONT TO THE SOUTH IN
LOYALIST PARK. ALL SEVEN BEAR THE INSIGNIA
OF QUEEN VICTORIA.
TOWN BLOCKHOUSE (1813), LOCATED DIRECTLY
ATOP THE HILL BEHIND THE WAR MEMORIAL,
HAD A COMMANDING VIEW OF THE ENTIRE BASIN.
From the plaque on the cannon