Jewel of the Crown
St. Nicholas Abbey’s great house, built by Benjamin Berringer in 1658, is one of just three Jacobean style mansions remaining in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the finest historic sites in Barbados.
Jacobean architecture, named for King James I of England (1603-1625), was a transitional phase in English design; it merged the Tudor and Elizabethan styles with continental Renaissance influences, including Flemish, Dutch and French architecture.
We welcome you to spend some time enjoying the Plantation's tranquil surroundings. A guided tour of the great house showcases a wealth of tradition, including antiques and artifacts spanning the home's 350-year history. You may also explore the boiling house and rum distillery where we produce St. Nicholas Abbey Rum and the surrounding gardens, orchards, gullies and the adjacent Cherry Tree Hill.
We Depart the Great House, making a quick photostop at the breathtaking Cherry Tree hill along the way before reaching Morgan Lewis Windmill.
Maintained by the Barbados National Trust, the mill includes an exhibit of the equipment used to produce sugar at the time when the industry was run by windpower generated from mills such as this one. This unique historic and architectural monument is the only working sugar windmill of its kind in the world today and has been lovingly restored to its former glory.
The mill consists of a tower, four giant arms, gears that transfer the turning of the sails to the turning of the rollers, housing on top, and a tail that connects the housing to the ground. By moving the tail, the whole apparatus can be rotated to face the direction of the prevailing wind. From December to April, the Barbados National Trust demonstrates grinding of sugar canes at Morgan Lewis. The resulting cane juice is absolutely delicious!
We finish our journey here, and make our way back to the hotel/ship.