The Powder Magazine at Fort James in Plymouth, Tobago, dates back to the 18th century during the height of European colonial rivalry. Built by the British, it was designed to safely store gunpowder and ammunition to defend the fort and nearby settlements.

Fort James itself was originally constructed by the British around 1770, during a period when Tobago changed hands multiple times between the British, French, Dutch, and even Courlanders (Latvia). The Powder Magazine’s thick coral-stone walls and sloped roof were meant to protect its volatile contents from heat and enemy fire.

Today, the Powder Magazine is one of the few surviving military structures from that era in Tobago and a tangible link to the island's turbulent colonial history.