Our recent trip to Barbados offered more than just snorekling of wrecks. Read on.
Barbados has a long history of sugar cane farming after the Dutch and persecuted Jews from Brazil helped introduce it to the island as a more profitable crop than cotton and tobacco that was farmed by the English in the earlier 1600s.
Indentured servants used for the hard labor were soon replaced by more profitable help, slaves from Africa. This dreadful source of manpower continued for almost two hundred years as the slaves worked the plantation while the owners lived in huge well kept beautifully landscaped estates with the finest of furniture. St Nicholas Abbey was one such great house.
The name, St Nicholas Abbey, from what we were told may have been titled as a blend of the Parish it was in, St. Peter, the surname one of the past owners names (Nicholas) and a connection that person had to the Bath Abbey in England. (a huge Gothic style Anglican church that I am pleased to say I visited and worshipped in some 15 years ago.)
The Great House
The great house of St Nicholas Abbey was built in Jacobean style that the brochure I read is uncommon in the "New World." In fact I read that is may be the only original standing structure of it's type after the devastating fire to The Sunbury Plantation House that burned to the ground in 1995. The structure was rebuilt to original specs but the loss does leave St Nicholas as the oldest original Jacobean style plantation house in Barbados, the Caribbean and all the Americas.
Walking through the Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study and more immerses one into another time and place. A look at the "Gentleman's Chair" brought smiles as I compared its creature comforts of a book holder, newspaper stand, built in reading lamp, foot and back rests, built in tables and more to the lounge chair we had in our home for years. Ours didn't stand up to this functional yet fanciful piece of furniture
The home is truly a wonder to see and the immediate grounds around it both interesting and architecturally stunning. A fee collectected at the front door opens up the homes first floor and the out buildings and grounds. There's quite a bit to see and the brochure package that has a colourful map, tour guide and historical information is THE best I have ever received anywhere. It's a true keepsake.
We spent perhaps an hour and a half but I could see some people spending more time, especially if having lunch on their outside patio area. It's a pleasant setting but the service at the Terrace Cafe seemed dreadfully slow on a day we wanted to see as much as we could, so we opted to move on. St. Nicholas Abbey has innumerable settings for artful photographs so a camera is a must and time to use it imperative if seeking memorable images.
Taking some time to walk the gully that allows time experience a landscape filled with lush indigenous flora with tall graceful palm trees way above and ferns and flowers covering the grounds below. It's a short walk that ties in the house withe the mill area so I strongly recommend it.
Work is still in progress as the proprietors continue a long term update of the outbuilding, the windmill and starting up as a fully working plantation once again.
A Taste Of Sugar
Just outside the gates of the plantation house are fields of sugar cane. My wife was sure to take some photographs. Me I wanted to try the one of the final products of sugarcane, rum and I did.
As of now St Nicholas does make a wonderful rum in it's own on grounds distillery that all are privy to try in both a rum punch that is gratis and a small sip or two of the rum that can be sent home in bottles that are personally etched. We enjoyed both the punch and the rum.
Be Sure To see the Film
A highlight of our self guided tour was seeing a 1935 film that was shot by a previous family owner. I found it a remarkable twenty minutes showing what life was like back in those times. The narration offered both historic background blended with good humor.
One must ask one of the many tour guides that are on the grounds ready to engage the tourist and answer any questions. They were delightful to talk with.
A Bit More To See and Say
My wife and I walked the Flower and Herb garden that weren't a must to see. We did however take macro images of the orchids that were in the courtyard. Also nearby was Lance and Baby. These are two Cockatoos that did entertain us and pose for pictures after they escaped their cage that afternoon.
After our visit we were told to be sure and see Cherry Tree Hill we didn't see cherry trees that I was aware of but my wife and I were treated to a truly glorious view of the east shores beaches from high above looking down at the Atlantic Ocean. It's a must look-see that's just a minute or two car ride from the house itself. Ask any tour guides if that view is part of a day tour of the island. It's a winner.
Pops Last Thoughts
My wife and I highly recommend St Nicholas Abbey as a definite place to visit while in Barbados. If one is on a one day stop on a cruise and can give up the beach and snorkeling (something my wife and I would do first) the a ride to this plantation house is recommended. If it's tied in with Harrison Cave, so much the better because the ride should take you to Cherry tree Hill with it's amazing views of the beaches so far below and in the far distance.
St Nicholas Abbey is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Barbados that include Harrison Cave that I hope to review within a few weeks and also the Barbados Synagogue, one of the oldest in the Americas first built in 1694 and today continues to be host to a Jewish community.
St Nicholas Abbey was a fine blend of history, rum tasting, and unhampered and delighful self-guided tour that brought us into contact with a unique great house, wonderful paths of flowers and other flora and a picture of what life was like so long ago.
Barbados has a long history of sugar cane farming after the Dutch and persecuted Jews from Brazil helped introduce it to the island as a more profitable crop than cotton and tobacco that was farmed by the English in the earlier 1600s.
Indentured servants used for the hard labor were soon replaced by more profitable help, slaves from Africa. This dreadful source of manpower continued for almost two hundred years as the slaves worked the plantation while the owners lived in huge well kept beautifully landscaped estates with the finest of furniture. St Nicholas Abbey was one such great house.
The name, St Nicholas Abbey, from what we were told may have been titled as a blend of the Parish it was in, St. Peter, the surname one of the past owners names (Nicholas) and a connection that person had to the Bath Abbey in England. (a huge Gothic style Anglican church that I am pleased to say I visited and worshipped in some 15 years ago.)
The Great House
The great house of St Nicholas Abbey was built in Jacobean style that the brochure I read is uncommon in the "New World." In fact I read that is may be the only original standing structure of it's type after the devastating fire to The Sunbury Plantation House that burned to the ground in 1995. The structure was rebuilt to original specs but the loss does leave St Nicholas as the oldest original Jacobean style plantation house in Barbados, the Caribbean and all the Americas.
Walking through the Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study and more immerses one into another time and place. A look at the "Gentleman's Chair" brought smiles as I compared its creature comforts of a book holder, newspaper stand, built in reading lamp, foot and back rests, built in tables and more to the lounge chair we had in our home for years. Ours didn't stand up to this functional yet fanciful piece of furniture
The home is truly a wonder to see and the immediate grounds around it both interesting and architecturally stunning. A fee collectected at the front door opens up the homes first floor and the out buildings and grounds. There's quite a bit to see and the brochure package that has a colourful map, tour guide and historical information is THE best I have ever received anywhere. It's a true keepsake.
We spent perhaps an hour and a half but I could see some people spending more time, especially if having lunch on their outside patio area. It's a pleasant setting but the service at the Terrace Cafe seemed dreadfully slow on a day we wanted to see as much as we could, so we opted to move on. St. Nicholas Abbey has innumerable settings for artful photographs so a camera is a must and time to use it imperative if seeking memorable images.
Taking some time to walk the gully that allows time experience a landscape filled with lush indigenous flora with tall graceful palm trees way above and ferns and flowers covering the grounds below. It's a short walk that ties in the house withe the mill area so I strongly recommend it.
Work is still in progress as the proprietors continue a long term update of the outbuilding, the windmill and starting up as a fully working plantation once again.
A Taste Of Sugar
Just outside the gates of the plantation house are fields of sugar cane. My wife was sure to take some photographs. Me I wanted to try the one of the final products of sugarcane, rum and I did.
As of now St Nicholas does make a wonderful rum in it's own on grounds distillery that all are privy to try in both a rum punch that is gratis and a small sip or two of the rum that can be sent home in bottles that are personally etched. We enjoyed both the punch and the rum.
Be Sure To see the Film
A highlight of our self guided tour was seeing a 1935 film that was shot by a previous family owner. I found it a remarkable twenty minutes showing what life was like back in those times. The narration offered both historic background blended with good humor.
One must ask one of the many tour guides that are on the grounds ready to engage the tourist and answer any questions. They were delightful to talk with.
A Bit More To See and Say
My wife and I walked the Flower and Herb garden that weren't a must to see. We did however take macro images of the orchids that were in the courtyard. Also nearby was Lance and Baby. These are two Cockatoos that did entertain us and pose for pictures after they escaped their cage that afternoon.
After our visit we were told to be sure and see Cherry Tree Hill we didn't see cherry trees that I was aware of but my wife and I were treated to a truly glorious view of the east shores beaches from high above looking down at the Atlantic Ocean. It's a must look-see that's just a minute or two car ride from the house itself. Ask any tour guides if that view is part of a day tour of the island. It's a winner.
Pops Last Thoughts
My wife and I highly recommend St Nicholas Abbey as a definite place to visit while in Barbados. If one is on a one day stop on a cruise and can give up the beach and snorkeling (something my wife and I would do first) the a ride to this plantation house is recommended. If it's tied in with Harrison Cave, so much the better because the ride should take you to Cherry tree Hill with it's amazing views of the beaches so far below and in the far distance.
St Nicholas Abbey is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Barbados that include Harrison Cave that I hope to review within a few weeks and also the Barbados Synagogue, one of the oldest in the Americas first built in 1694 and today continues to be host to a Jewish community.
St Nicholas Abbey was a fine blend of history, rum tasting, and unhampered and delighful self-guided tour that brought us into contact with a unique great house, wonderful paths of flowers and other flora and a picture of what life was like so long ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment