St. Nicholas Abbey
St Nicholas Abbey is located on Cherry Tree Hill. The sugar and rum museum are adjacent to the Jacobean mansion dating from 1660! It remains one of the best glimpses of plantation life in the Caribbean. St. Nicholas Abbey is not without its tale of tragedy! The house appears to have been built by Colonel Benjamin Berringer. His neighbour, friend and business partner was John (later Sir John) Yeamans. When Yeamans began to pay attention to Mrs. Berringer, a feud erupted between Yeamans and Colonel Berringer, culminating in a duel in which Berringer was killed. Soon afterwards, Sir John married Mrs. Berringer and claimed the Abbey. A court ruling later returned the property to Berringer’s children and the property was named after Berringer’s grand-daughter who married George Nicholas. Meanwhile, Sir John and Berringer’s widow left Barbados in 1669 and helped found the colony that is South Carolina, USA, with Sir John eventually becoming Governor of that settlement in 1672.
Address: St.Peter
Website: http://www.stnicholasabbey.com
Synagogue
Described as the 2nd oldest synagogue in the North America and originally built by Brazilian Jews in 1656, this building has been totally restored after almost being demolished in the 1980′s.In front of the synagogue there is an old cemetery with 400 graves. The headstones have been cleaned and restored.
Address: Magazine Lane
St. John’s Parish Church
St. John’s Parish Church is a classic Gothic church situated on a cliff overlooking coastal St. John Parish and the Atlantic Ocean. The Church was built in 1836 and replaced the previous church which had been destroyed by a hurricane in 1831. The initial church was built in 1660, but was destroyed by fire. The church is often included on tours and has a visitor’s Centre. The oldest burial is Ferdinando Paleologus who was a descendant of the brother of the great Emperor Constantine XI, the last of the Byzantine Imperial family.Paleogogus fled to Barbados in 1636. The rumour was that he was buried ‘back ways’. In 1844, a curious church official ordered the vault opened to see.Paleologus’ lead coffin was found in the vault of Sir Peter Colleton under the organ loft. As the lid was opened, his skeleton was seen to be lodged in quicklime. He was buried according to Greek orthodox traditions, which was that the dead person’s head should point to the west and their feet to the east. A memorial was erected in the churchyard by public subscription in the form of a Greek temple made of Portland stone.
Address: Saint John
St. James Parish Church
St. James Parish Church is among the four oldest surviving churches in Barbados and is located near the site of the island’s first settlement in Holetown. In the southern porch of the church is a bell with the inscription – “God bless King William, 1696″. This bell pre-dates the famous American Liberty bell by 54 years.
Address: Holetown
Gun Hill Signal Station
The largest military garrison in Barbados located St George parish dating from 1697 was the key chain in the islands defence. It offers a sweeping 360 panorama across the entire island. The manicured garden and canons add reality. You can climb inside and peep through the portholes for a military point of view. Easily reached as day tour via private taxi hire or part of group.
Address: St. George
Andromeda Gardens
Andromeda Gardens is run by the Barbados National Trust. Andromeda was developed in 1954 by the late horticulturist Iris Bannochie for her weekend retreat. It soon became a memorable garden and she opened it to the public. She left the property to the National Trust in 1988. It is named for the Greek goddess Andromeda who was chained to a rock – probably because of the huge limestone boulders in this area.
Address: St. Joseph
Barbados Museum
The Barbados Museum, located at the Garrison, is housed in the former British Military Prison. The prison, whose upper section was built in 1817 and lower section in 1853, became the headquarters of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society in 1930. There is a Children’s Gallery, a Map Gallery and a Temporary Exhibition Gallery. The newest is Connections – Africa and its People in the Caribbean. You can contact the Barbados Museum via its official Website: http://www.Barbmuse.org.bb, Email address: admin@barbmuse.org.bb, Phone: 246-427-0201 or Fax: 246-429-5946
Hours:
Monday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Closed on public holidays
Address: St. Ann’s Garrison, St. Michael
Sunbury Plantation House
Sunbury was originally built in 1660 by Matthew Chapman, an Irish/English planter, one of the first settlers on the island. and was one of the leading centres of sugar production in Barbados for a long time. It was also one of the main loci of the 1816 slave revolt. The house was bought by someone who wasn’t living there – they had a house down the road. It was carefully restored for tourists and includes antiques, china, silver, and furniture. Sunbury House was opened to the public in January, 1984
Address: St. Philip
Phone: 423-6270
Website: http://barbadosgreathouse.com/
Tyrol Cot
The latest addition to the Barbados National Trust, this is the home of Barbados’ first Premier, Sir Grantley Adams, and the birthplace of his son, Tom Adams, who became the Island’s second prime minister. Built in 1854 out of coral stone, it gives an insight into island architecture and life back then. It also houses the family’s memorabilia- gifts from visiting dignitaries, etc. Behind the house there is also the Heritage Village, a collection of authentic Chattel Houses which are now shops and workshops of artisans. Although Tyrol Cot is open during the week, there is more activity and more of the shops are open and functioning on the weekends. There is a parking lot across the street from the entrance.
Address: Codrington Hill, St. Michael
Phone: 424-2074
Hunte’s Gardens
It is Barbados’ newest addition to the menu of horticultural delights. Visitors enter past nurseries housed in and around plantation outbuildings and where antiques and statues mingle with exotic plants. These gardens have been lovingly nurtured in a naturally formed gully and feature an array of tropical flowers, trees and foliage. Through the gardens you’ll find statues, antiques and other beautiful decorative pieces that add to this amazing experience. Here you meander along the pathways, stopping as you wish along the way, and spotting the local birds and animals that loves this place as much as you will. All gardeners and horticulture or plant enthusiasts will truly enjoy their visit to Hunte’sGardens, however this beautiful place holds an appeal for all who wish to be mesmerized by nature’s beauty. Open daily 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fee: 10USD per person
Adress: St Joseph
Phone: 433 3333
http://www.huntesgardensbarbados.com/
