Levis Fort also known as No. 1 Fort was built by the British as part of a chain of three forts to defend the Southern land approaches to Quebec City. The British had used this are when besieging Quebec to mount their artillery to bombard the defences of the City in 1759.
The original plans advanced by Major Jerviois of the Royal Engineers in March 1865 called for five Forts, three in the forward line, joined by field works and pre-prepared positions for artillery. Forts 4 and 5 were to be to the rear (North) in a support role. Cost restraints and the changing tide of politics meant that only the single line of defence was ever built with Forts 1 to 3 inclusive.
Levis Fort was built between 1865 and 1872, along with the other two fortifications in the defence line. Forts 2 and 3 have largely disappeared under development, Fort 2 is a golf course and Fort 3 is an old cement works.