A Guided Walking Tour of the History of a City - Bridgetown

Brief History

Bridgetown received its first 65 English settlers on 5thJuly 1628 under the command of Charles Wolverstone. Wolverstone was on a mission sanctioned by a group of London merchants who had been granted a lease to 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of land by the Earl of Carlisle in settlement of debts. The town center was originally a very swampy area that had to be quickly drained and filled in so as to make way for the early development. Although uninhabited, the British found a few traces of indigenous pre-existence on the island, the most noticeable being a primitive bridge that had been constructed over the Careenage area's swamp.

After Barbados was made the seat of the Anglican Diocese in 1824 for both Barbados and the Leeward Islands, St. Michael's Parish Church was made a Cathedral. This is how Bridgetown transformed from a town into a city.

As the city further developed, the ancient 17th centuries buildings were maintained and several of them are still standing. However, buildings that came up later embraced the current architectural designs. This gives the city a surreal feeling where old meets new in a very cozy and eye-catching artful composition. This city should definitely be on your list of places to visit while on a trip to Barbados.

Tour Description

Are you craving a historical adventure in Barbados? Do you love hearing stories? Well, we’d love to tell YOU about our historical stories by taking you back in time during a two-hour walking tour. The journey is fully infused with the mingle of our ancestors and the soft whispers of our buildings. You will hardly notice the passage of time as we explore exciting sites all the way from Our Father of Independence to the “Bridge”.

Come witness the last remnants of a Screwdock in the world and explore a wealth of the commercial and religious spaces of our beloved Bridgetown. A little snack helps pass the time as you get a nibble of the sweetness that makes us the people known as Barbadians.

This tour is ideal for:

• the historian
• the curious visitor
• the casual cruise visitor
• You
• anyone seeking to learn of the rich heritage that this UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer.
• As an addition to any Barbados vacation packages
  

What to expect:

• Be transposed back in time.
• Hear the intriguing stories of Bridgetown.
• Hear about our Parliament and its place in the Commonwealth
• See the canons that lie quietly on our streets.
• Walk down the oldest street and capture its culture.
• A visit to the first church and the Jewish Synagogue are both a must.
• Walk on the “secret” burial place.
• Experience comfort and leisure of all this with the aid of Orpheo Audio Tour (OTG) equipment

Things to note

1. A light snack will be provided.
2. You may bring your own headphones however earpieces will be available.
3. Comfortable walking shoes, and weather gear, just in case of a few drops of rain, is encouraged.
4. Starting Point:  Errol Barrow Statue, Independence Square, Bridgetown
5. Assembly Time: 15 minutes before departure time