3464 BARBADOS - Morgan Lewis Windmill

3464 Morgan Lewis Windmill in Saint Andrew

Located in the northern parish of St. Andrew overlooking the eastern coastline of the island and the Scotland District, Morgan Lewis Windmill, is the last sugar windmill to operate in Barbados, and one of only two working in the world today, the other being at Betty's Hope Estate on Antigua. The mill stopped operating in 1947, but was dismantled for restoration and reopened in 1999 as museum. During the 'crop' season, February through July, its sails are put in place and it operates one Sunday in each month, grinding cane and providing cane juice.

 

2698 BARBADOS - Oistins Fish Fry

2698 Oistins Fish Fry in Barbados

Oistins is an active fishing town on the south coast of Barbados and is a hub of activity on weekend nights. On Friday night particularly, the big thing to do is go to the fish fry at Oistins Bay Gardens. The food is the main draw - excellent fish, (tuna, swordfish, marlin, mahi-mahi, flying fish), lobster, chicken etc served in an extremely informal setting. It's all cooked on the spot in front of you. Of course, Calypso music is not missing.

1517 BARBADOS - The beach where landed the first settlers

1517 The beach where landed the first settlers in Barbados

The first English ship arrived in Barbados, where is now the Holetown, on the sheltered west coast of the island, on May 14th 1625, after what appears to have been a fortuitous accident. Captain John Powell and the crew of Olive Blossom were sailing from Brazil to England and went off course, due to a navigational error. Powell found the island to be uninhabited and claimed it in the name of King James I of England. On his return to England informed his employer, Sir William Courteen (a Dutch-born English merchant trader), what it happened.

1145 BARBADOS - Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison (UNESCO WHS)

1145 Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison

Bridgetown, the capital and largest city of Barbados, is located along the Carlisle Bay, on the southwestern coast of the island. The present day location of the city was established by English settlers in 1628 following a prior settlement under the authority of Sir William Courten at St. James Town. Historic Bridgetown is an outstanding example of British colonial architecture consisting of a well-preserved old town built in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, which testifies to the spread of Great Britain's Atlantic colonial empire. The property also includes a nearby military garrison which consists of numerous historic buildings.

1118 BARBADOS - A traditional chattel house

1118 A traditional chattel house in Barbados

In 1625 Barbados was claimed by England, and the first settlement in the island was founded in 1627 by Henry Powell, who arrived with 80 settlers and 10 slaves (kidnapped or runaway English or Irish youth). In 1640 was introduced the sugarcane from Dutch Brazil, and this completely transformed the society and the economy, Barbados becoming one of the world's biggest sugar industries (in 1660 it generated more trade than all the other English colonies combined).