Overview:

Rock Hall Freedom Village is a community located in St Thomas in Barbados. The establishment was born out of a passion to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the island for those living there and for visitors alike. The community consists of traditional dwellings that reflect the eras of both the pre-colonial and plantation times, allowing insight into how life was back then. In addition, residents of Rock Hall Freedom Village actively promote local Barbadian crafts, featuring pottery, ironwork, painting and traditional music. The village also features a unique history museum with artifacts dating back to the late 1800s. Rock Hall Freedom Village is a fascinating insight into the culture and heritage of Barbados and offers visitors a unique experience. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Barbados
Prominent Features:

Rock Hall Freedom Village in Saint Thomas, Barbados is a unique village that has a rich history and offers many tourist attractions. The village is home to over 200 people and was declared a National Monument in 1996. The main attraction of the village is its historical significance, the intricate cottages, which are made from local materials, the old church, as well as the local eateries and shops. One of the most interesting features of Rock Hall Freedom Village is the annual religious offerings it hosts every year. It features the ritual and tradition of offering turkeys and chickens to the god Eleda, which dates back to the days of slavery. Visitors can also take part in interactive ceremonies, such as the cooking of cane juice and turtle-shell divination. The village is also home to many small eateries and local shops, with a wide variety of local products being sold. Visitors will find everything from handmade baskets to fresh fruits and vegetables. A variety of restaurants offer both local and international cuisine, so visitors can find the perfect meal when stopping by. The village of Rock Hall Freedom Village is a hot spot for tourists looking to experience the culture and traditions of Barbados. There are plenty of activities to take part in as well, such as swimming and snorkeling on the nearby beaches, taking part in local art workshops, and exploring the local ecosystem on hikes and nature walks. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Barbados.

History:

Rock Hall Freedom Village is one of the oldest settlements of free people in the Caribbean. Located on the northeast corner of Saint Thomas Parish in Barbados, Rock Hall Freedom Village is about three miles north of Bathsheba and two miles east of St. John’s. It was a free settlement founded by former slaves before the abolition of slavery in Barbados 1834. The name of the settlement is derived from the limestone rocks that helped to construct the homes shared by the former slaves who were free to operate within their own community. The settlement was not marked on colonial maps of the islands, yet it is still known as the original free space established by early settlers to Barbados. With that being said, there is very little known about the creation of Rock Hall Freedom Village, with some scholars attributing the event to the civil unrest between the French, who were trying to invade Barbados, and the English settlers in the area. Despite its lack of tangible traces, in the many years that have followed, Rock Hall Freedom Village has become an important site for many of the oldest narratives in Barbados. With the abolition of slavery in 1834, the settlement provided a place for former slaves to become independent and live their own lives. In addition, for many citizens of Barbados, Rock Hall serves as a potent reminder of how far Barbados has come in terms of its struggles for independence and genuine freedom from the colonial legacy of the islands. Today, Rock Hall Freedom Village increasingly is seen as a spiritual pilgrimage site for many Afro-Caribbean people who come to the settlement to pay their respects to their ancestors. For this reason, it is a revered sacred spot that is seen as the source of the many stories and histories of the Barbadian people's collective liberation journeys. Visit one of the famous monuments of Barbados with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Rock Hall Freedom Village is the most historically significant living history village in the Caribbean. 2. The village was founded by William Wilberforce, the English politician and philanthropist who was instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. 3. The village is home to an important archaeological and architectural site, with artifacts and structures from the 16th and 17th centuries. 4. Rock Hall has the oldest surviving Caribbean one room schoolhouse, built in 1818. 5. The village is also home to the Three FMs, the first free radio stations to operate on the island and the Caribbean region, established in 2002. 6. Rock Hall is one of the first free communities in the Caribbean. It has been home to a large number of freed and escaped slaves since the early 19th century. 7. The village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to a rich cultural heritage, with vibrant traditions in music, folklore, and crafts. One of the historical monuments of Barbados, it tells the story of a bygone era