32 Pounder Blomefield Cannons
Fort Frontenac
Kingston, Ontario

The four Blomefield cannons are aligned along the water's edge.

The Blomefield cannons were named after the Inspector of Artillery, Thomas Blomefield, who designed them in the latter part of the 18th Century. They are distinctive in that they are very plain in design and have a breeching loop cast into the rear portion.

Blomefield's appointment at the time, was rather unusual as he was a land artilleryman and the Board of Ordnance was chiefly focused on the design of naval cannons. However, the board was responsible for providing arms and ammunition to both the Navy and the Army. It appears that after the Napoleonic Wars the Blomefield Guns were quoted as being used for "Upper Deck 74 Gun Ships, Garrison and Battering trains."

Nearly all of the iron guns of this time were manufactured by civilian contractors in England, such as Samuel Walker of Rotherham, The Carron Company of Falkirk and the Low Moor Ironworks of Bradford.

The Blomefield cannons predate the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and was never used in service by any of its units.

Each of the carriages have an engraved brass plate attached:

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Photos and text provided by LCol L. Jensen