Barbados Journal - St Nicholas Abbey

St Nicholas Abbey, Cherry Tree Hill, St Peter, Barbados, West Indies (Built 1658)

This article was written in February 2013 - so ticket price and times may be out of date

A fine example of fine Jacobean architecture, this stunning mansion sits surrounded by lush fields of sugar cane and gullies stocked with massive mahogany trees. It is noted as a heritage site although privately owned by the Warren family. Purchased in 2006 with the original 400 acres of plantation. The house has a complex and colourful history covering hundreds of years and several families, including Sir John Yeamans, knighted by King Charles II, who was appointed Governor of the Carolina in 1663.

Sadly neglected over the years by absent owners the estate had fallen on hard times although the mansion remained open to the public. Today it has been carefully restored and enhanced by additions in keeping with style of the original to provide a fine heritage attraction, a cultural centre and self-supporting planation to sustain one of the three remaining Jacobean mansions in the Western hemisphere. The other two surviving great houses are Drax Hall, also in Barbados and Bacon’s Castle in Virginia, USA.

There is a lot to see on the estate, initially the price of B$37 may seem steep, but we spent  many happy hours wandering in the beautiful grounds. The old steam engine parts are used as 'industrial sculptures' manufactured by Fletcher & Co plus the huge old copper tanks are halved and create gorgeous lily ponds. There is a steam mill in action processing the sugar cane, the sound of the hissing and pumping, and smoke from the tall chimney cannot help but draw you to the factory sheds. A short but well explained talk about the process is given while the cane is pushed between the rollers to produce the liquid which will eventually become the estate's delicious rum! The whole process is on display including the bottling, labelling and packing - with a bespoke engraved bottle, label and seal of course.

The paths around the house and garden use the old bricks from the disused sugar mill chimneys, once again imported from England over a hundred years ago (see article of last trip -  http://missbtakesawalk.blogspot.co.uk/2012_08_01_archive.html

You enter the house through an elegant porch to find a very English drawing room. Panelled  in  cedar, the best wood apparently  to absorb the damp from the ground up as the house has no foundations to speak of. Much of the furniture is mahogany crafted by long ago gifted locals copying English styles of Georgian England. There are sash windows open to the cooling Atlantic  breezes from the East coast. Although a Jacobean house it uses the tropical layout to filter the cooling passages of air to circulate though the rooms.

Sadly the upstairs was closed, the original staircase can no longer sustain the tread of the many visitors. I hope the architect owner may be able to rectify this one day as of course visitor curiosity necessitates a peek into the upper floors.

The walls are covered with interesting articles from The Graphic and Illustrated London News so cannot wait to get to The London Metropolitan Archives to view them again and research  more news from the island of days gone by.

A settle on the way through to the courtyard is the same age as the house, beautifully carved with figures and motifs.

The ownership of the house through time is complex and involves deceit, murder and underhand property deals all part of the myriad history of Barbados.  The house had several names after its original of Berringer Plantation, due to its complicated past. Then in 1834 the house was inherited by Sara and Charles Cave, when the property took the name St Nicholas Abbey alluding to happy memories of England by combining the then name 'Nicholas Plantation' with 'Bath Abbey' where they were married. 

The house exudes peace and calm and if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the day and night life of the West coast I recommend a trip to St Nicholas Abbey where you can enjoy home-made banana bread and tea in beautiful china cups.

You can also enjoy a family cine film, do you remember those? From 1935 it is a record of not only plantation life but how one would have travelled to the islands in the time. Also provides a rare insight into the social history of Bridgetown as well as the importance of the Careenage to get goods and people on and off the island.

'Hello Babe'

Also if you wondered where the family Cockatoos are you will quickly find out - they usually start up their calling as soon as the film starts!

The original bath house and 'places of easement' are in situ in out buildings, the house actually only boasts one bathroom for 7 bedrooms. However visitors can rest easy the public facilities are situated in the new out buildings supplied by the famous name of Thomas Crapper!

There are friendly guides to take you around the house. The gardens are beautifully maintained and easy to access. The brochure, guide and map included in the admission price are excellent and full of detail.

Special thanks to Heather Stone, Operations Manager for your all your time.
Open : Sunday – Friday 10.00am to 3.30pm

Cost : Bajan $37

E Mail:  heritagetourism@stnicholasabbey.com

www.stnicholasabbey.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nicholas_Abbey - Please read the Wiki version with caution it is grossly inaccurate, but gives some architecture information which is useful.

February 2013