Rusting at the edge of the sheltered harbour of Stromness is a cannon said to be a relic of the Anglo-American War.

Trade routes and access to the vast grain fields of Canada became the trigger for war and the shipping lanes between Canada and Britain came under constant threat from the US Navy.

The cannon is said to be from the 'Liberty'

Canada was a British colony at this time.

It is thought that the cannon came from a privateer, an armed ship often funded by individuals or companies, called the Liberty.

How the cannon came to be in Stromness is a mystery,  but it was put to good use to signal the arrival, often from Canada, of Hudson’s Bay Company ships in to the harbour.

During 1813, with Captain Scott in charge,  the Liberty ran aground at the entrance to Cambeltown harbour. Some reports indicate that she may have been salvaged.

On a wall nearby is a blue plaque that reads  ’The cannon reputed to have been salvaged from the American Privateer ‘Liberty’ in 1813.

Plaque explains the history of the cannon

It was used to fire a salute to the Hudson’s Bay Company Ships’.

More information

Little seems to be published on the internet about the ‘Liberty’, Captain Scott or how the cannon came to be recovered from the ship and brought to Stromness.

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