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North West Co. fort on Qu'Appelle river near mouth of Cut-Arm Creek. It was two days journey up the Qu'Appelle river from its junction with the Assiniboine river, on the right bank. It was situated not far above Fort Ellice of later date. It is shown on Rinfret map No. 3 marked "Old Fort Espérance". Said to have been first built by Robert Grant about 1783. John McDonnell wrote in his journal from Fort Espérance under date October 1793. This was the first North West Co. fort in the Assiniboine country. It was rebuilt in 1806 by McDonald for the North West Co. This post became later the chief provision depot of the Company and large quantities of dried meat and pemmican were kept there for the other posts. It was called by Thompson "Thorburn's House", who visited the fort in 1797. The X. Y. Co. also had a small post nearby.