Fort Frederick at Trincomalee was built by the Dutch in 1622 on the site of a shrine dedicated to Shiva. The temple served as a quarry to supply building material for the fortifications and consequently sculptured stones were incorporated into the walls of Fort Frederick. In 1795 the fort was besieged and conquered by the British. When Constance Gordon-Cumming visited in 1873 the fort was manned by 400 British soldiers