Old French trading post on Chateau Bay, Strait of Belle Isle, in the territory granted to Courtemanche 1630 and extended 1702. Built about 1740. Chateau Bay is shown on Harleyan map 1543. Jaques Cartier anchored there in 1534. In 1736 the concession was to granted to Bazil for 9 years to 1745. In 1749 it was regranted to Sieur Gaultier for 9 years. Bougainville gives Baye-des-Chateaux in his list of forts 1757. Sir Hugh Palliser ordered a fort to be constructed in 1767, plan of which was given in Gosling's Labrador p. 190. This fort was called Fort York and Chateau Bay was renamed York Bay. Cartwright in his journal 1770 says that the Government about 1765 erected a block house and small fort garrisoned by an officer and 20 men. In 1776 the garrison was withdrawn as unnecessary. Lease of Chateau Bay was acquired by North West Co. in 1788. The Hudson's Bay Co. does not seem to have leased this post. Captain Wemyss reported Septr. 1794: "At Temple Bay there are four forts, Fort Carlton, Fort Wallace at entrance, Fort Sheffield fronting Temple Bay, and Fort Charlotte. There are no fortifications on the coast of Labrador but at Temple Bay". These were all small wood block-houses. Temple Bay was contiguous to Chateau Bay, practically one bay. Shown on Low's map of Labrador S. E. (No. 61).

The original name of the Strait of Belle Isle was Strait of Baie Chateau. It was so called from a huge mass of basalt which caps an island in the bay, perpendicular cliffs like a Norman keep.