Saint Peter, Barbados

Statistics
Parish:	Saint Peter
Area:	34km² (13 sq. mi.)
Largest City:	Speightstown
Population (1990 est.):	10,055 inhab.
Population Density:	295,74 inhab/km²
Parliamentary representation
- House seats	1
Map
Parishes of Barbados

The Parish of Saint Peter ("St. Peter") is one of eleven parishes in the Caribbean island country of Barbados. It is named after the Christian Apostle and patron saint, Saint Peter. It is located in the north of Barbados, and is the only parish besides Saint Lucy that extends to both the east and west coasts.

The Barbados "Platinum Coast," which extends through Saint Peter from the parish of Saint James just to the south, has helped to make Saint Peter a tourist hot spot. The parish is surrounded with white-sandy beaches including the world famous Mullins Bay. It also contains many rolling hills and terraces some of which are still covered by sugar cane, which was the island's chief cash crop during its colonial period. Within Saint Peter are also large tourist sites such as the Port St. Charles marina (the only marina in Barbados) and the Almond Beach Village. Other lavish resorts include Schooner Bay, Mount Brevitor, Suga Suga, and Black Bess, the first banyan tree resort in the Caribbean region.

peightstown

The area of Speightstown was the first major port and commercial centre of Barbados. The city is named after William Speight, a member of Barbados' first Assembly during the colonial years as well as the former land owner where the city is located. It has a long and colorful history reaching back to the 17th century when it served as one of the main ports connecting the island with the “mother country,” England. Back then Speightstown was sometimes called “Little Bristol” because of these trading connections with Bristol in England. This little village was the port that Ayscue could not take, when dispatched by Cromwell to quell the insurrection in Barbados in 1649. The Barbadians were loyal to Charles I, and would not accept Oliver Cromwell as their protector. For six months Ayscue was unable to land in Barbados, and concentrated attacks on Speightstown were repelled by the small forts along the shore. The tiny island was landed only with the help of a defector who led Ayscue and his men to land at Oistins Town where they met with representatives of the island and signed what has become known as the "Charter of Barbados". Signed in 1652, the agreement gave Barbados rights and privileges unheard of in any other Island. In particular it guaranteed that Barbados could not be taxed without the consent of a Barbados General Assembly. Many historic buildings dating from colonial times, including Arlington House, still remain standing in the town and can be seen mostly along Queen Street, Church Street and Orange Street. Speightstown saw a lot of activity during the reign of the sugar industry and the day of the slave trade. Many slaves would have passed through this town, even if they were to be shipped on further to other islands or America. There is a lot of activity in Speightstown particularly on weekends when locals and visitors come out to do their shopping and banking. Many stalls can be found along the streets hawking local and imported fruits and ground provisions. Falling into disrepair and neglected over the years it has now been revived and is on stream for a number of exciting initiatives. There has been a redevelopment of the Speightstown Esplanade (Fort Denmark) and the Fisheries Complex. There has been some significant work to the drainage of the area with the Salt Pond being adjusted to allow for the flow of water from the sea. The jetty has been rebuilt and there is the talk of resurrecting the Bridgetown to Speightstown Schooner Route as a modern ferry line. Speightstown is also home to Port St. Charles, a brand new luxury marina development, where those who wish to enter the island by yacht and other vessels can dock and be processed for entry. Due to its distance from the capital, it carries an air of a more bohemian lifestyle. Also to be found in close proximity to Speightstown are excellent hotels and restaurants. There is an excellent art gallery, The Gallery of Caribbean Art, http://www.artgallerycaribbean.com/ which showcases some excellent local and Caribbean artists.

Attractions of St. Peter

Farley Hill National Park

Farley Hill is a ruin of a beautiful Georgian mansion, which was built by Sir Graham Briggs. Work first started in 1818 and rooms were constantly being added over the next fifty years or so. Farley Hill was eventually regarded as the most impressive mansion in Barbados and in 1957, was used as Belfontaine Mansion in the famous film "Island in the Sun". After being destroyed by fire later in 1965, the property was acquired by the Barbados Government. In 1967, HRM Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the grounds as the Farley Hill National Park. Nestled high up on a hill over looking Barbados’ rugged Atlantic coast, Farley Hill is an ideal spot to picnic, escape into nature, hide in the shade of a comforting tree or simply stare out to sea. It has one of the most fascinating and commanding views of the East Coast from this side of the topographical escarpment, rivaled only on this side by the view from Cherry Tree Hill. It is also a spot favoured by visitors for getting married! The forest of mahogany trees is transformed into the stage for musical and theatrical events several times a year. These are events such as the Barbados Jazz Festival and The Gospelfest among others.

Barbados Wildlife Reserve

Situated in a lush mahogany wood, across the road from Farley Hill National Park, the reserve is primarily a monkey sanctuary for the Barbados Green Monkey. The monkeys and most of the animals are free to roam.

St. Nicholas Abbey

St Nicholas Abbey is perhaps one of the most well renowned houses in Barbados and the western hemisphere. It has the distinction of being one of three genuine Jacobean mansions in the Western hemisphere. It is interesting enough to note that Barbados is the home of two of these mansions. The second is the famous Drax Hall, located in the central parish of Saint George. The third is Bacon's Castle, located in Surry County, Virginia, USA. They are very similar to the English Jacobean manor houses of the first half of the seventeenth century – the period between the Tudor and Georgian styles, beginning in the reign of James I. St Nicholas Abbey has no church connection. It has always been a sugar plantation house. The exact origin of its name is not known but rumour has it that it probably was named after Berringer's granddaughter Susanna who married a George Nicholas. Colonel Benjamin Berringer is the person who built the house somewhere between 1650 and 1660, but somewhere closer to 1660. Sir John Yeamans, a neighbour, friend and business partner of the Colonel, began to pay special attention to Mrs. Margaret Berringer. A feud erupted between Yeamans and Colonel Berringer, culminating in a duel between the two, in which Berringer was killed. Soon afterwards, Sir John married Margaret and claimed the Abbey as his own property. In 1669, The Colonel’s children took the matter to court and were awarded ownership of the property, while Sir John and his wife moved to South Carolina, USA helped founded the colony and he even became Governor. The property passed to Berringer’s son and then his granddaughter, Susanna, who married a George Nicholas, after whom the plantation was named. According to the matrimonial law of that period, it automatically became her husband’s. It was later acquired by the eminent baronet, planter and legislator, Sir John Gay Alleyne, also through marriage, to Christian Dottin. He lived there from 1746 until his death in 1801. Alleyne family traditions hold that Sir John planted the impressive mahogany avenue leading from St Nicholas to Cherry Tree Hill. The plantation was bought out of the Chancery Court in 1811 by two Cumberbatch brothers, Edward Carleton Cumberbatch & Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch. The ancestors of the Barbados Cumberbatchs were from Bristol, England. In 1834 the inventory of Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch who died December 1833 stated: St. Nicholas & Ebworth valued at £55,974. St. Nicholas: 407 acres @ £50/acre and Slaves @ £60/slave = £20,350 land + c.184 slaves = £11,040; the remainder is possibly personal effects. The 1834 slave registration identified 184 slaves at St. Nicholas. The Abbey passed by marriage to Charles Cave in 1834. Lt Col Stephen Cave OBE, great-great-grandson of Charles, lived at St. Nicholas Abbey from 1978 until his death in November 2003. This well-preserved mansion has many interesting and attractive features, but the most striking are the curvilinear Dutch gables, with tall finials of carved coral stone, and corner chimneys. The entrance portico, Chinese Chippendale staircase and cedar panelling are later additions. The fireplaces and walled medieval design herb garden were almost certainly included in the original plans brought from England, and copied faithfully. Sugar has been grown on the plantation since 1640 and there is still the evidence of the mill and sugar making edifices. Processed on the property until 1947, the cane is now trucked eight miles to the Portvale Sugar Factory for processing. There is a rare 1930s film of life on a sugar plantation that is available for viewing. Listed by the Barbados Tourism Authority as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Barbados’, the property has attracted several thousand visitors a year drawn to its mix of architectural and social history, its beautiful grounds and stunning views. A magnificent avenue of mahogany trees leads up to the house, which has attractive gardens running into a dense wood, with an exotic mix of mahogany, sand box, cabbage palm, silk cotton and avocado trees. Away from the house there is an escarpment with stunning views along the east coast. The house is open for public tours Monday through Friday 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Religion

Religion has played a major part in the life of the inhabitants of Barbados for generations. Having been a colony of Britain for the entirety of its recorded history until independence, it is no surprise that there has also been adopted its cultures and traditions. This inclusive of religion. There are several denominations present in St. Peter, the most prevalent being the Anglican/Episcopal. There is also the Seventh-day Adventists, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal among others. The more noticeable churches are: The St. Peter's Parish Church (Anglican), All Saints Chapel of Ease (Anglican), St. Philip-the-Less (Anglican), Speightstown Methodist, each with a rich history. The historical Parish church for Saint Peter is located in the Speightstown/Litchfield area of Saint Peter.

Parishes bordering St. Peter

*Saint Andrew - "East"
*Saint James - "South"
*Saint Lucy - "North"