·
Barbados Blackwood Screwdock (dry dock)
In July 2025 PM Mia Mottley launched the Bridgetown Pierhead Project, a waterfront development project aimed at breathing new life into historic Bridgetown. Pierhead then (early 1960s) and now (2025) pre revitalisation. This new Pierhead development incorporates what used to be the Blackwood screwdock – which was a marvel of Victorian engineering. Like the HARP…
·
Haunted by Janet
This is a follow on post to: Hurricane Janet – 22 September 1955. 70 years on Clem Griffiths recalls Hurricane Janet. Some Bajans measure life by elections, others by cricket matches – but me? By hurricanes. My first brush was Janet of 1955, though at two years old I nearly slept through it… until a…
·
Belleville Village
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…
·
Bygone Barbados photographs held in the UK National Archives
The National Archives UK have a wealth of bygone Barbados photographs. They formed part of the Colonial Office photographic collection – some of which have now been digitised. This collection of bygone photographs of Barbados held by the National Archives UK, in the Barbados album, is an amazing resource of 372 Barbados colonial photographs. Here…
·
The Garrison Drains
The drainage tunnels at the Barbados Garrison are another interesting piece of the puzzle that makes up the history of Barbados. Rediscovered in 2011, during the renovations at George Washington House, the tunnels were unknown to most Barbadians of that time or had become a faded memory by those who may have been aware of…
·
Mike Spence reminisces: The Origins of the GIN Club, Strathclyde
These memories are now more than 50 years old and are somewhat murky, so forgive any oversights or errors you may find. In fact any additions or corrections would be welcomed and much appreciated. In the early 1970s, a bunch of Strathclyde boys including James Carter, Geoffrey Parkinson, Andrew Rodriguez, Bernard (Buns) Corbin and myself…
·
Richard Rose reminisces: The Barbados Rally Scene in the 1960s and 1970s
The things that stand out in my mind about the Barbados Rally Scene in the 1960’s and 70’s were the enthusiasm and sense of fun that was there among the contestants and the dedication of the marshals. I was often amazed that we would go around a corner in somewhere desolate like Archers in St…
·
Searching for the names of Bajan RAF Ground Crew in WWII
This is a call for help. For over 40 years, Audrey Dewjee in the UK has dedicated herself to uncovering and preserving the history of West Indian men who joined the Royal Air Force as ground crew. Believing that their contributions had been largely overlooked, she took it upon herself to ensure they would not…
·
Lord Nelson’s statue – Bridgetown, Barbados
Lord Nelson’s statue – Bridgetown The statue of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson in Barbados was unveiled in Bridgetown on 22nd March 1813. It was sculpted from bronze by Sir Richard Westmacott. It is considered an excellent likeness of the British Admiral. Very soon after his victory and subsequent death at Cape Trafalgar in 1805, plans…
·
The British West Indies in 1936
Sorting through my parents papers, post probate, my sister and I came across a school textbook that my father had kept: The British Empire by George W Southgate BA published in 1936. On the inside cover of this book it says: James H Burton form IV Harrison College 1939, and it has his address as…
Advertisements
BajanThings
Bajan history. Interesting Bajan people. Hiking in Barbados and Overseas. International Travel…
Category: Bajan History
Bajan (Barbadian) history.