I've been a quarry and a fort
I've been a church, I've come to naught
But ere my weary bones decayed
I witnessed death and accolade
I drank the blood of many slaves
I bore the warships on my waves
Accursed, my purpose lived full measure
But I live on, while pain brings pleasure
What am I?
This is the third in a series of riddles written in the classic metric style. Have a bash at working out the solution.