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BRIDGETOWN
- is the capital and principal commercial centre. Founded in 1628, it has
a population of approximately 80,000 and is Barbados largest and liveliest
city.
Lord
Nelson's Bronze Statue
- In Bridgetown one would find Lord Nelson’s Bronze Statue at Trafalgar Square (now called National Heroes Square) erected in 1813, 27 years before Nelsons column in Londons
Trafalgar Square was erected.
The
Public Buildings
- which house the third oldest Parliament in the Commonwealth.
The Fountain
-in Independence Square - was erected to celebrate the start of piped water in Bridgetown.
Independence Square
-Previously a car park, this area has now been transformed into a recreational square and garden for the benefit of locals and visitors. The Square features seating areas, an amphitheatre, two fountains and a 9ft statue of National Hero, the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow.
The
Jewish Synagogue
- located about 200 yards from Broad Street. It is believed to have been in
existence since the 17th century.
Barbados
Museum
- The repository of the islands history, the Barbados Museum houses
an excellent collection of furniture, glassware, birds, fish, books and other
records of the island.
The Museum is located at the Garrison in the old military detention barracks, erected in 1853. It is maintained by the Barbados Museum and Historical Society established by an Act of Parliament in 1933.
Queen's
Park
- This was the residence of the General commanding the British Troops in the
WestIndies. Prior to the succession of Queen Victoria it was known as Kings
House. On the withdrawal of the British Regiment from this island during
the early years of this century, it was taken over by Government and the control
was vested in the then Vestry of St. Michael, and turned into a park. It was
opened on the 10th June 1909. It now falls under the National Conservation
Commission. In the grounds of the Park there is one of the largest trees,
if not the largest in Barbados. This is a Baobab and is 611/2
feet - approximately 18m. - in circumference, and is estimated to be over
one thousand years old. The Baobab is a native tree of Africa;
no one knows how it ever got to Barbados.
Holetown
- Originally called James Town this is the site of the first landing
made in 1625 by the crew of the ship Olive Blossom. A monument
commemorates the landing.
Folkestone
Park
- An underwater park where marine life can be viewed from glass bottom boats.
At the park there is also a small marine museum of photographs, artifacts
and specimens of marine life.
ST.
JOHN
Codrington College
- An Anglican Theological College, first opened in 1745. It was bequeathed
by Christopher Codrington III to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.
Students come from all over the West Indies to study in the peace and tranquility
of this lovely old place. It is an architectural and historical gem.
St.
John's Church
- The Church stands on the edge of a cliff which affords a magnificent view
of the islands east coast. The present building is 150 years old, although
there has been a church on this site from the 17th century. The tomb of Ferdinando
Paellologus, a descendant of the last Greek Emperor, is situated in the graveyard.
ST. GEORGE
Gun Hill Signal Station
- This is the best preserved of the signal stations. Any signal going from
Cotton Tower to St. Anns Fort in Bridgetown had to be relayed via Gun
Hill.
The Lion (Gun Hill)
-
Measuring 10 feet tall and 16 feet long, the lion was sculptured from a single
piece of rock in 1868 by a British Soldier.
CHRIST CHURCH
Oistins
- On the South Coast was once the major seaport. It was here that Royalist
Barbadians grudgingly pledged their allegiance to Oliver Cromwell and his
Government in 1652.
It is our principal fishing port and the site of a major fish festival.
ST. PHILIP
Sunbury
House
- Sunbury Plantation House, which is over 300 years old, creates a vivid impression
of life on a Sugar estate in the 18th and 19th centuries. The history of Sunbury
Plantation House, sited in the east coast St. Philip countryside, goes back
to Matthew Chapman, an Irishman, one of the first settlers in Barbados. The
estate was known as Chapman's Plantation and is shown on several early maps
of the island. It was eventually bought by two brothers, John Henry and George
Barrow, who greatly enlarged the plantation and changed the name of the estate
to Sunbury, the name of their home in England. Several decades and numerous
owners later, Sunbury House was opened to the public in January, 1984. After
a disastrous fire on July 24, 1995, the house was meticulously restored and
re-opened to the public in August, 1996.
ST. THOMAS
Harrison's Cave
- Located
near Welchman Hall Gully, was opened in November 1981 by the Government of
Barbados. It is believed that Harrisons Cave is the only cave in the
world where running water is found along with colour crystal-like formations.
The cave has large chambers, stalagmites, stalactites, lakes, streams and
waterfalls.
Welchman
Hall Gully
- A botanical garden, owned by the National Trust. The gully is a garden of
fruit, spice-bearing trees and natural caves. In one of the caves a huge pillar
formed from the joining of a stalactite and stalagmite appears to hold up
a rock cliff, and with a diameter of 1.2m. is among the largest in the world.
ST. PETER
Farley Hill National Park
- was once the site of a beautiful mansion built by Sir Graham Briggs for
the entertainment of his guest Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, when the
latter visited Barbados in 1861. Other Royal visitors including Princes Albert,
Victor and George, later King George V of England, were entertained there
when they visited the island in 1879.
Because of its picturesque setting, Farley Hill Mansion was used in the filming of the motion picture "Island in the Sun". After its destruction by fire in 1965 the site was converted into a national park.
The
gutted remains of the mansion still stand.
Speightstown
- the second largest town in the island. Formerly known as Little Bristol,
because of the heavy sugar traffic with that English town. It was eventually
renamed after William Speight, a member of Governor Hawleys Parliament
in 1639, on whose land it was built.
Nicholas
Abbey
- at Cherry Tree Hill is a fine example of Jacobean styling and is thought
to be one of the only three such Plantation Great Houses of that period still
standing in the Americas. Built in 1650, it is believed to be the oldest house
in Barbados.
Wildlife
Reserve
- opposite Farley Hill National Park, highlights Barbadian Fauna.
ST. ANDREW
Chalky Mount
- (Potteries) - An old village situated on the slopes of Chalky Mount, where
pottery has been made for about 300 years. The skill has been passed on from
father to son.
Morgan
Lewis Mill
- is the last remaining windmill on the island. It still has the roundhouse,
tail tree and points.
For a small fee, visitors can view the mill and its display of implements used in the manufacture of sugar many years ago. The mill is the property of the Barbados National Trust.
ST. JOSEPH
Cotton Tower
- A 19th century signalling station now maintained by the Barbados National
Trust as a historic site. It was one in a chain of stations set up by the
British Army as part of its security system.

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