Castles / GH / Central Region
Elmina Castle
Which definitions does it satisfy?
This dataset does not record whether something “is a castle”. It records a verdict against each named definition, with the reasoning that produced it.
| Definition | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fortified residence | no | A garrison and trading establishment rather than the residence of a private lord. The resident governor held office from a state, which is the distinction the criterion turns on. |
| Enclosure fortification | no | A designed artillery-era fort, not a prehistoric enclosure. |
| State fortification | yes | Built and garrisoned by the Portuguese crown as a fortified trading post and later held by the Dutch and British states. State commission and military purpose, with no private lordly residence organising it. |
| Palatial seat | no | Not a palatial residence. |
| Revival and folly | no | Genuine defensive fabric. |
| Popularly a castle | yes | Universally called Elmina Castle, a World Heritage site and one of the most visited historic sites in Ghana. |
Facts
| Tradition | african |
|---|---|
| Location | Elmina, Central Region, GH |
| Built | 1482 · Portuguese 1482, Dutch from 1637, British from 1872 |
| Condition | intact |
| Confidence | high |
| First recorded | 2026-07-21 |
| Last updated | 2026-07-21 |
In the registers
Where this structure appears in official inventories. This is what turns an individual record into evidence about a count.
- Wikidata —
Q1140852· entry
Location
Approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Notes
Raised in the originating thread as a case where the strict definition and ordinary usage collide, and where the word does heavy and uncomfortable work: Elmina was a site of the transatlantic slave trade, and its dungeons are what most visitors come to see. UNESCO's own inscription is titled 'Forts and Castles' - using both words rather than choosing. A dataset that quietly resolves this to 'castle' or quietly drops it is making a historical judgement while appearing to make a taxonomic one.
Sources
- Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions — UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 1979
- Elmina Castle — Wikipedia
Record file · dataset licensed CC BY 4.0 — see provenance.