Blackbeard’s Castle (aka. Skytsborg), is a “stone tower” for use in your favorite 28mm historical pirate, Caribbean-themed tabletop wargame. Perfect for use as a coastal defense fortification, scout tower, or a stone lighthouse. It would also make a great wizard’s tower for a game of D&D, Pathfinder, or other RPG. This tabletop terrain piece is extremely flexible in its use and will no doubt be a favorite for your gaming table.
Blackbeard’s Castle – Model Information
Item: Blackbeard’s Castle
Company: Kraken’s Den
Item #: KD 13001-1
Sculptor: Jason Klotz
Scale: 28mm
Setting/Compatibility: Pirates, Wargaming Terrain, D&D, DnD, Pathfinder, Blood & Plunder
Width (at base): 120mm
Height: 160mm base tower; 230mm with shuttered roof
Material: 3D Printed w/PLA plastic
Condition: New, unpainted, unassembled
Price: TBD – Preorder’s coming soon.
Contents:
- 1 Tower solid piece (hollow)
- Roof Option 1 – Lookout structure with tiled roof and shuttered doors
- Roof Option 2 – Flat wooden plank roof
- 16 shutters – These are interactable/moveable so you can open or close them on the model or leave them uninstalled
- Barrels, crates, minis, and other accessories shown are not included
History of Blackbeard’s Castle
This model is based on a National Historic Landmark in the U.S. Virgin Islands located in the city of Charlotte Amalie, on the island of St. Thomas. The tower was believed to be erected in 1678 by the Danes as a watchtower overlooking the harbor. Its role was to scout for incoming ships and supplemental defense for the nearby Fort Christian.
Originally known as Skytsborg (meaning “sky tower” or “protection castle”). The tower may or may not have ever been used by the infamous Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, but he was known to sail in the area in the early 18th century. It is possible he used the tower to scout merchant ships that could make likely targets or military ships to hunt or avoid. However, that seems unlikely based on historical records. As time passed, the legends and stories of the structure belonging to Blackbeard likely grew more fanciful and common. In recent decades, the tourism industry likely embraced the legendary pirate’s legacy to draw visitors to the historic St Thomas Island. Today the tower is part of the Estate Skytsborg and part of a hotel/resort complex.
GPS Loc: 18°20′37.83″N 64°55′46.53″W
Historical Photos of the real Blackbeard’s Castle
Blackbeard’s Castle in the late 1800s
Source: Territorial Archives of the Government of the Virgin Islands, a unit of the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources
Blackbeard’s Castle in 1989
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/caribbeanphotoarchive/10770006923
Photographer: J. Murray Jordan (1898)
Modern Photos used as Reference
Modern-day front entrance to Blackbeard’s Castle
Source: https://viestiphoto.photoshelter.com/image/I0000x4ilnLChMk0
Photographer: Robert Fried
Tourists atop the modern day Blackbeard’s Castle
Source: https://www.facebook.com/blackbeardscastle/photos/d41d8cd9/1479207105453511/
Bronze statue of Blackbeard in front of his castle.
Source: http://statue.ecoev.us/blackbeard-statue/
FREE – Stat Sheet for use with Blood & Plunder
If you’ve not played it yet, you need to play Blood & Plunder! This is a printable PDF of the floors so you can place your models that are in/on the tower on the sheet to track their location in the tower itself.
Download the Blood & Plunder Stat Sheet
Hopefully, a version that is scaled for Oak & Iron may be making its way to TimberAndSail.com soon.