Belleville was developed in 1885 by Samuel Manning and his brother, Thomas Manning, in partnership with George Whitfield. It was designed as a model residential suburb of Bridgetown, featuring fine homes and nearly 900 Royal Palm trees.

By 1890 construction had commenced and by 1898 at least 79 houses had been completed.

Some regard Belleville as the first viable display of good town planning in Barbados. In 1910, Eighth through Eleventh Avenues were made available for public access while up until about 1935, First through Seventh Avenues catered to private residents.

Today Belleville has changed significantly. Belleville has been transformed from a prime residential area into a business hub. The once 900 Royal Palm trees that were planted during its developmental in the 1880s are mostly now gone.

Here is a description of Belleville from: The 1898 Barbados Diamond Jubilee Directory published to marked the 60^th year of Queen Victoria’s reign.

This early plan of Belleville from The 1898 Barbados Diamond Jubilee Directory shows Clifford St. which was later abandoned.

Below is a transcription of the Belleville section of The 1898 Barbados Diamond Jubilee Directory.

DESCRIPTION OF BELLEVILLE

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Belleville

BELLEVILLE, situated between Government House on the North, and the Savannah (with St. Ann’s Garrison) on the South, is about a mile from the City, and is reached by the Constitution Tram, which runs every half-hour. Its long beautiful Drive along the Pine or Belleville Road and its eleven intervening avenues with rows of majestic palms, crowned with a canopy of frond-like leaves, are all studded with lovely villas and present a charming tropical picture, and is much resorted to for pleasure drives.

Samuel Manning, Esq., a leading merchant of the Island, was the founder; he purchased the site and laid it out in modern style and sold out lots on which the purchasers have built elegant and commodious residences.

[George Whitfield was written above Samuel Manning as: George Whitfield was Samuel Manning’s business partner and together they acquired sixty (60) acres of land which they divided into eleven (11) parallel avenues between the two (2) parallel streets of Pine Road and George Street. Manning & Company would later become Manning Wilkinson & Challenor, then in 1995 it merged with DaCosta’s to become DaCosta Manning. The new group was then acquired in 2000 by Trinidad Group Neal & Massy.]

Houses in this charming village are much sought after, and few, if any, remain unoccupied for any length of time.

There are still several desirable vacant lots available which can be purchased at moderate prices, and easy terms.

A good number of the cottages were built for Mr. Manning under the supervision of experienced workmen, and sold by him outright or under the hire-purchase system.

It contains two fine Tennis Lawns for the use of the residents, a spacious Cricket Ground (now used by the Spartan C.C) and very recently a handsome Chapel of Ease, St. Cyprian, was erected for the accommodation of the residents of the vicinity. It is breezy and healthy. Belmont Road bounds it on the North, and Collymore Rock Road on the South; and beyond the Pine Road the fine Drive leads to Culloden and Dalkeith Roads, and on to the Garrison and Hastings.

Key to Plan of Belleville on the next page.

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KEY TO PLAN OF BELLEVILLE

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Residences on East or Upper side of Pine or Belleville Road.

Nr.	Name	Resident	Owner
a	Hillside		C. E. Y. Crouch, “Grotto”
b	Claradon	J. S. Toppin	Mrs. G.Challenor, Chp’side
c	Ashmount	G. Y. Ince	C. D. Bourne, White Park
d	Ullsdale	John E. Bourne	John E. Bourne
e	Fauxbourg	F. C. King	Mrs. Inniss, Fontabelle
f		H.M. Cummins	H.M. Cummins
g	St. Michael Lodge	No. 2253 E. R.	Lodge Trustees
h	Diamede	Thos. Goodridge	Valeria Goodridge
i	Roseville	Walter Bayley	A.C. Kidney, Hanschell & Co.
j	Lyndhurst	Miss Brady	Mr. Nichols
k	Fernleigh		R. H. Taylor
l		W. T. Richards	W. T. Richards
m	Edithville	Jos. E. Croney	Jos. E. Croney
n	Gaydene	Jas. E. Croney	Jas. E. Croney
o	Heatherly	C. W. Fleming	C. W. Fleming
p	Calton		Mrs. Robinson
q	Aldersgate		Samuel Manning

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Residences within the Avenues.

Nr.	Name	Resident	Owner
1			Mrs. Barclay
2	Haverford	W. R. Foster	Miss Helen Phillips
3	Penrith	R. H. Edwards	R. H. Edwards
4	Acton	E. Gittens	E. Gittens
5	Newham	A. Williams	Mrs. Bellamy
6	Ashcroft	W. D. Phillips	W. D. Phillips
7	Parkville	T.W.R. Redmond	George S. Pilgrim
8	Louiseville		W. H. Guy
9	Greenwich		N. Fitzpatrick, Ice House
10	Cleveland	Alfred Pilgrim	Alfred Pilgrim
11	Kingsley	J.S.G. Williams	J.S.G. Williams
12	Lyteville	J.B. Outram	L. B. Watson
13	Daffodil Cottage	Thos. Manning	Mrs. Jackson
14	Myosotis	Mrs. S. Drayton	Children of A. F. Bonyun d.
15	Leileigh		Mrs. Leigh
16	Broomielaw	Mrs. Hinckson	Mrs. Hinckson
17	Banavie (Incorrectly printed on Plan Banaire)	Robert Haynes	Robert Haynes
18	Mayfield	W. Sellars	Mrs. Clinckett
19	Bridport Lodge
20	La Pensée	Mrs.F.D. Gillman	Mrs. N. Carrington
21	Deanston		Mr. Dean
22	Grafton	Mrs. John Inniss	Mrs. John Inniss
23	Holyrood	A. S. Bryden	R. H. Skinner
24	Elridge	Mrs. A. Laurie	Mrs. A. Laurie
25	Aberfoyle	C. W. Ince	Mrs. E. M. Mayers
26	Emerald Villa	Mrs. Doorly	Mrs. Doorly
27	The Quiver	E. F. Evelyn	E. F. Evelyn
28	Staunton	James Gibbons	James Gibbons
29	Avondale	Rev.T. Gardner	Rev.T. Gardner
30	Ingleside	C. J. Winter	C. J. Winter
31	Glendale	E. S. Bailey	E. S. Bailey
32	Elderslie	H. Bynoe	H. Bynoe
33	Clovelly	Valence Gale	Valence Gale
34	Ryeburn	C.H.Griffith	C.H.Griffith
35	Stirling		Mrs. R. H. Reid
36	Sylvania	Joseph H. Barrow	Joseph H. Barrow
37	Pevensey	J. R. Meade	J. R. Meade
38	Esperanza	Mrs. J. Griffith	Mrs. J. Griffith
39		A. Matthews	Mrs. Rudder
40		William Reece	Mrs. Roberts
41	[Unoccupied]
42	Favie Mayo	B. Evelyn	B. Evelyn
43	Casa Mia	Miss Massett	Miss Trotman
44	York Lodge	Mrs. Hyde	Mrs. Moore, Hastings
45	[Unoccupied]
46	[Unoccupied]
47	Amity	Charles Watkins	Charles Watkins
48	Anglesea	W. D. Maxwell	W. D. Maxwell
49	Fawsley	Mrs. Ambridge	Mrs. Ambridge
50	Suttonville	Rupert Redmond	Rupert Redmond
51	[Unoccupied]
52		Louis Taggart	C. W. Fleming
53		E. L. Delamere	Miss Trotman
54	Peftini	Miss Whitehall	Miss Whitehall
55	Erin	Mrs. J.E. Corbin	Mrs. J.E. Corbin
56	Lochmar	Rev. S.E.Knight	W. C. Dixon
57		F. Montplaisir	S. Manning
58		Mrs. M. Clinton	Mrs. M. Clinton
59	Florenceville	R. Greenidge	S. Manning
60	Lynwood	J. D. McConney	J. P. Shepherd
61		J. W. King	J. W. King
62	Gracile	L. Bushell	Mrs. E. L. Leach
63		C. Barnes	Mrs. Crawford
64	Plevna	Mrs. M. Grogan	Mrs. Jarvis
65	Danville
66		W. Allder	Miss Gooding
67	Waverley	F. Nightingale	F. W. Nightingale
68	Beulah	C. Shepherd
69		R. E. Barrow	R. E. Barrow
70	Ashley	Alfred King	E. R. Fields
71		Mrs. A. Jones	Samuel Manning
72	Victoria & Paradise Nursery	J. W. Williams	J. W. Williams
73	Marieston
74	Lottie Villa	F. G. Hemsley	H. J. Ince
75	Richelieu	H. S. Batson	H. S. Batson
76		A. H. Outram	Miss G. Young
77	Rosemary
78		J. H. Warren

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Residences in George Street – counting from Belmont Rd.

Nr.	Name	Resident	Owner
79		Mrs. Fitt	Mrs. Fitt
80		John Cubbin	John Cubbin
81	Elwin	MissE. Callender
82	Eden	Miss Guy	Miss Guy
83	Ellsworth	Joseph Knight	N. R. Fitzpatrick
84		H. Williams	H. Williams
85	Economic	Mrs. Abrams	Samuel Manning
86		Mr. Yearwood
87	Alma
88		Mrs. Rock	Samuel Manning
89		Miss A. Fitzpatrick
90		Mrs. Roach	Mrs. Roach
91		Mrs. Reaper	Mrs. Reaper
92		Capt. Hassell	Capt. Hassell
93		Griffith	Samuel Manning
94		Sampson
95		Mrs. Powers
96	[Unoccupied]

Six cottages unoccupied (we can only list 5!)

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Residences in Belmont Road – Counting from the west, right hand up, from corner of Martin-dale road, and counting down left to the corner of Hall’s road.

Nr.	Name	Resident	Owner
1	Belmont House	Walter Merivale	J. E. Ince
2	Belmont Cottage	J. S. Lloyd	J. S. Lloyd
3		Mrs. C. Corbin	Mrs. C. Corbin
4		F. W. Allamby	Miss Crichlow
5		Miss Crichlow
6		Mrs. J. H. Moore	Mrs. J. Moore
7		Mrs. N. Fitzpatrick	Mrs. Fitzpatrick
8		R. W. Bourne	Miss A. Bourne
9		W. Stephenson	W. Stephenson
10		Henry T. Man	Mrs. Man
11	Everton	Mrs. E. O’Neale	Mrs. E. O’Neale
12	Almegro	J. A. Nurse	J. A. Nurse
13	San Remo	S. H. Nichols	S. H. Nichols
14		C. A. Daniel	Greaves
15		Hon. E. L. Laborde
16	Melbourne	D. M. Simpson	D. M. Simpson
17		John Clarett	John Clarett
18		C. A. King	C. A. King
19		Miss G. Kennedy	Miss G. Kennedy
20		Mrs. S. Clinton	Mrs. S. Clinton
21		H. A. Boyce	H. A. Boyce
22		Miss A. Conliffe	Miss A. Conliffe
23		Mr. Matthews	Mr. Matthews
24		J. G. Archer	J. G. Archer
25		John B. Gilkes	Mrs. Armstrong
26		Fred A. Batson	Fred A. Batson

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Residences in Collymore Rock Road – Counting from west, left hand up, from corner of Martindale’s Road to corner of Pine Road coming down right to corner of Jemmott’s Lane.

Nr.	Name	Resident	Owner
	Enmore	J. Gardiner Austin	J. Gardiner Austin
	Merton Lodge	J. Francis Browne	J. Francis Browne
	Summerville
	Brierfield		Dudley DaCosta
	Melrose Villa	E. G. Sinckler	Mrs. A. E. MeClean
	The Cottage	Miss A. L. Haynes	Miss A. L. Haynes
	Shrubbery	Alex. A. Cole	Alex. A. Cole
	Maxwellton	H. A. Laurie	H. A. Laurie
	Elsinore	H. P. O’Brien	Robert Dickson
	Lauriston	Miss Haversaat	Miss Haversaat
	Hill View	Mrs. E. R. Bailey	Mrs. E. R. Bailey
	Wakefield	Mrs. S. A. Yearwood	Est. Yearwood, d.
	Glenroy	William Jones	Oswald Jones
	Little Enmore	R. H. Pile	Mrs. Hampden Pile
	Myrtle Villa	Lt. Col. Johuston	Ordnance Property
	Avalon	Mrs. Trimingham	Mrs. Trimingham

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Description of Belleville Page 194 – 199, taken we think from: The 1898 Barbados Diamond Jubilee Directory

Below are a selection of photographs and post cards of Belleville from its heyday:

Belleville Lawn Tennis Club then and now.

Today the Summerhaynes Tennis Club is on 5^th Avenue Belleville with buildings on 6^th Avenue. The early map also shows a cricket ground to the south, which is no longer there. The tennis courts today are world class hard courts. Back in the heydays of Bellville they were compacted grass courts. The old photo is of the other tennis club between 1^st and 2^nd Avenues.

Further information on Belleville

Below is a transcript of: Belleville – A monument to Sam Manning by Warren Alleyne – The BAJAN, November 1978, p10 – p12.

Belleville – A monument to Sam Manning by Warren Alleyne

The main things that strike one about Belleville are its genteel beauty and the fact that it is one of the very few residential suburbs of Bridgetown that shows any evidence of having been planned. Today not many people are aware that this lovely neighbourhood owes its existence to the enterprise primarily of the late Mr. Samuel Manning, a former owner and resident of adjacent Erdiston.

Samuel Manning started on his business career as a merchant’s clerk at Whitfield’s Store on Broad Street, but later joined the Colonial Bank (now Barclay’s) where he remained until 1878, when he left to establish his own business in partnership with his brother, Thomas Manning. About three years later he conceived the idea of creating, in association with the same Bridgetown merchant George Whitfield for whom had worked, a model residential neighbourhood of fine homes.

Whitfield, incidentally, was of Canadian origin. Together they set about acquiring land for the project. “Emerald Villa”, property of some 15 acres, purchased from Ann Barclay, and 6 acres 1 rood of the land of Bishop’s Court, purchased from the Executive Committee were among several parcels which finally formed a tract of approximately 60 acres.

The task of laying out the district was begun in 1885. Eleven avenues extending from the Pine Road were opened across the land, ten of which intersected two roads – later named George Street and Clifford Street – that were cut north to south and parallel to the Pine Road. All these avenues and roads were graded, macadamised and guttered, and nearly 900 Royal Palms were planted beside them before building lots were offered for sale. For some reason, however, the numbering of the avenues undertaken until 1903.

Clifford Steer, which was mid-way between George Street and the Pine Road, and extended from the First Avenue to Belmont Road, was named after Mr. Manning’s younger son. It was obliterated sometime very early in the 20th century – presumably to create additional building space, and no trace of it now remains. There is some uncertainty whether George Street was named after Mr. Manning’s partner, George Whitfield, or George Manning, his eldest son; and there is a possibility that it named after both.

By 1890 building construction was seriously und under way in Belleville, and by 1898 at least 79 houses had been erected. But not all the development was purely residential. In February 1890 the construction of St. Cyprian’s Church was begun plot of 13,400 square feet of ground given for the purpose of Messrs. Manning and Whitfield who, additionally, made a cash donation of 100 pounds towards the project. Dependent entirely on voluntary subscriptions, the work, however, proceeded slowly, and the church which was designed on the plan as St. Leonard’s was not completed until 1894. A north aisle was added in 1895 which increased the seating capacity from 300 to 420.

The Masonic Lodge in the Pine Road also from the early 1890s. The Corner 1892 in the laid on 5th January 1892 in the presence of Governor, Sir James Hay and a distinguished gathering, and the building was opened on 5th January the next year [1893].

It is not clear whether recreational facilities had been planned for Belleville but by 1900 there was a tennis court situated between First and Second Avenues, at George Street end, and another between the Fifth and Sixth Avenues adjacent to the Pine Road. Contiguous to the latter, and separated from it by a fence, was the ground of Spartan Cricket Club.

In 1891 the Barbados Tramway Company decided to extend its service to the suburb, and the next year a tram line was laid from Trafalgar Square via Constitution and Belmont Roads terminating a short distance inside the Pine Road. The tram service went into operation on 1st July 1892 and continued unto the end of July 1925 when the Tramway Company ceased operations in the island.

With the sole exception of the Pine Road, which was cut and opened in 1851 as a public road, the roads of Belleville were all private. Early in 1903, however, the residents and property owners of the district, headed by Mr. Valence Gale, founder of the Barbados Advocate news paper, and supported by Samuel Manning and the Rev: G. T. Bowen of St. Cyprian’s, submitted a petition asking the Rural Road Commissioners to take over George Street as public road. The Commissioners were interested, but because of the high estimated cost – some 1,650 pounds per annum – of providing drainage and sanitary maintenance, plus the fact that the road did not connect with Belmont Road and Collymore Rock, they decided to seek the opinion of the Commissioners of Health, On the advice of the latter, the Rural Road Commissioners refused the residents petition. A similar petition submitted to the Highways Commissioners in 1909 met with a similar fate and, in fact it not until 1930 that George Street finally taken over by the authorities.

In April 1910 Mr. Manning published a declaration that Tenth Avenue for the use and benefit of the public: and in February the following year be put published a similar declaration in respect of the Eleventh Avenue. When he made Eighth and Ninth Avenues public is uncertain but eventually only the First Avenue to the Seventh remained as private roads. But it was not until April 1935 that the Highways Commissioners for St. Michael were finally asked to take those over. Messrs. E. E. H. Thorne and A. S Bryden were appointed a committee to look into the matter, and at a meeting of the Board held on the following 1st August, they reported that their opinion was that the avenues in question should be taken over by the Central Road Board. Soon after this Belleville’s last private roads passed into public ownership.

In 1927 Pine Road was chosen as the first public road in the island to be rebuilt from the foundations up and finished with a surface of colas, although at the time this material was known simply as pitch or oil. For many years this road was known as the smoothest in the island and regarded in the same way as the present generation looks on the new Barber Greene roads. The secret was in the foundation and even today it has fewer undulations than some of the Barber Greene roads which are now a few years old.

In the nineteen forties Pine Road was also chosen by the Barbados Electric Supply Company as the first street to be lighted by fluorescent lamps.

The prestige that Belleville once enjoyed has now perhaps become slightly blurred owing to competition from the newer bousing developments which, since the Second Word War, have sprung up all over the island. The suburb, however, still retains an air of dignity and tranquillity which sets in above the rest. It may rightly be regarded as a worthy memorial to Samuel Manning who nearly a century ago, conceived it and brought it into being.

Transcript of: Belleville – A monument to Sam Manning by Warren Alleyne , published in the: The BAJAN, November 1978 p10 – p13

Special Thanks

Our thanks to Harriet Pierce at the Barbados Museum who sent us a number of cuttings on Belleville as background.