Overview:

St. Nicholas Abbey, Saint Peter in Barbados, is a historic residence located on Barbados’ Atlantic coast. It is a Jacobean-style sugarcane plantation home which dates back to 1658 and is the only genuine Jacobean house in the western hemisphere. The house is now a museum, displaying antique furniture, original model cars, art, and more. It also houses a rum distillery and sells a variety of rum flavors. Visitors can take guided tours of the house and learn about the history of the plantation. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Barbados
Prominent Features:

1. This historic plantation house and rum distillery is located in the parish of St. Peter's in Barbados. 2. Built in 1650, there is evidence that a structure was on the site as early as 1620. 3. The building is constructed primarily of brick and coral cut stone. 4. It is one of the very few remaining Jacobean mansions in the western hemisphere. 5. The house features a three story stone stairway at its entrance, an underground passageway, and a variety of period furnishings. 6. The plantation is now open to visitors, who can tour the house and gardens, witness rum-making demonstrations, and visit the neighbouring pottery. 7. There is also an on-site restaurant serving lunch and dinner and a gift shop selling souvenirs and rum. 8. In 2011, St. Nicholas Abbey was added to the UNESCO world heritage site list as part of the Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Barbados.

History:

St. Nicholas Abbey is a sugar plantation turned tourist attraction located in the Parish of Saint Peter, Barbados. The estate is one of the oldest and most intact plantation houses in the Caribbean and is the only remaining Jacobo house in the region. Constructed in 1658, the privileged 400-acre estate was passed down through generations of the same family until its current owners acquired it in 2006. After five years of restoration, St. Nicholas Abbey officially opened its doors to the public in 2011. The first incarnation of the estate was built by James Carlisle, who purchased the land in 1658. Carlisle swapped the land in 1695 for another plantation and the new owners immediately began renovating the estate. Thomas and James Coddington made structural alterations and introduced new quarters for slaves who labored on the plantation. Over decades the plantation fell into disrepair, but in 1810 it passed into the hands of John Codrington Carrington, a successful lawyer. Carrington made extensive repairs to the building and re-landscaped the grounds, adding an ornamental lake and formal gardens. New crops such as cotton and tobacco were introduced, and a carriage house, windmill, and rum distillery were added to the estate. John Codrington Carrington’s son James inherited St. Nicholas Abbey in 1848 and it passed to his son in 1887, whose descendants held the property until it was sold in 2006. The new owners immediately began repairs to the estate, restoring original mahoganywindow frames, upstairs galleries, and windmill vanes. In addition, they conducted archival research, replicating furniture similar to the 1848 pieces and restoring the kitchen and orchard. They also planted 200,000 tropical trees to maintain its original rainforest habitat. St. Nicholas Abbey is listed on the World Monuments Watch list and Barbados' prestigious National Trust list. The Abbey is considered to be one of the most impressive historical properties in all of Barbados and is definitely worth the visit. Visit one of the famous monuments of Barbados with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. St. Nicholas Abbey is one of the oldest plantation houses in the Caribbean, having been constructed in 1660. 2. It is the only intact Jacobean-style plantation great house remaining in the western hemisphere. 3. The estate is now a museum exhibiting examples of 17th-19th century life, including a rum distillery which produces its own unique Barbadian rum using antique equipment. 4. St. Nicholas Abbey is one of only three completed Jacobean mansions in the western hemisphere (the other two being Drax Hall in Jamaica and Bacon's Castle in Virginia). 5. The estate is a "living museum" with living quarters on the top floor and an extensive collection of antique furniture, paintings, artifacts, and documents of the period reflecting Barbadian history. 6. The grounds also contain a crescent-shaped plantation lake, formal gardens with indigenous and exotic trees, a palm tree arboretum, and trails for exploration. 7. Much of the original architecture and the interiors of the house remain unchanged since construction began in 1660. 8. The estate is currently owned by the Alleyne family, descended from the original owner, owner Abraham Alleyne. One of the historical monuments of Barbados, it tells the story of a bygone era