How to do Fish Cakes Bajan Style

Fish cakes are a traditional Barbados breakfast dish. They may be eaten on their own or served with delicious sweet bakes. For those on the go , the preferred way of enjoying fish cakes is sandwiched in a "salt bread", this is known as a "bread and two".

Fish cakes are also a favourite appetizer at restaurants and finger food at cocktail parties.

Recipe

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1 small hot pepper, finely diced
• chopped parsley, thyme and marjoram
• 1 lb boneless, skinless salt cod
• 1 cup water

To prepare the salted cod, boil in 6 cups of water for 4 minutes. Throw off the water and boil a second time for 3 minutes. Flake the fish with a fork.

In a bowl, combine the flaked fish with the other ingredients. Stir until a thick batter forms. You can add more water or more flour to get the desired consistency.

Drop the batter by teaspoonful into oil over medium heat, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. You may need to turn the heat down to medium-low if the fish cakes are burning before being fully cooked.

Drain on paper towels. Fish cakes are best eaten hot!

Fish cakes are even more delicious when dipped in traditional Barbados pepper sauce or Marie Rose sauce made by combining mayonnaise, ketchup and pepper sauce.

Thanks to Barbados.Org for this delicious recipe on how to make Fishcakes Bajan Style.

How to make Bajan Cou-Cou and Flying Fish

Here's what you will need:

» A large mixing bowl
» 2 large saucepans
» 1 large mixing jug
» 1lb corn meal
» 16oz of cold water
» 10 Okras or Lady’s fingers
» 1tsp salt
» 1 large onion
» 1 bulb of garlic
» Fresh herbs
» 2oz butter 

Directions 
» Place the 16oz of corn meal in a large mixing bowl and add 16oz of cold water and allow to stand for 5 minutes. 

» Chop Okra or Lady’s fingers into slices and place in saucepan, add 1 teaspoon of salt, then chop 1 bulb of garlic into fine slices and add to the Okras, then chop one large onion into fine pieces and add to the saucepan, then chop fresh herbs and add to the pot. 

» Now add 16oz of water and bring to the boil. When the saucepan is boiling, reduce the heat and allow to simmer gently for 10 minutes. 

» Now strain the liquid from your saucepan into a mixing jug. 

» In another saucepan place your soaked corn meal and half of the liquid from your jug. Stir continuously adding the remaining liquid from the jug. Continue stirring until corn meal is cooked all the way through. 

» Now add the contents of the other saucepan with 2oz of butter. 

» Mix it all together and serve. 

Thanks to Totally Barbados for this recipe.I have tried it and it turned out amazingly.Here their website: https://www.totallybarbados.com/ for more info.

Rihanna's Story

Early Life

Singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988, in St. Michael Parish on the Caribbean island of Barbados. She is the eldest of three children born to Monica Fenty, an accountant, and Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. Rihanna's childhood was marred by her father's struggles with addictions to alcohol and crack cocaine and her parents' marital problems—they divorced when she was 14 years old.

Rihanna also struggled with crippling headaches for several years during her childhood, a condition she attempted to hide from her friends and classmates so that they would not think she was abnormal.

Move to U.S. 

As a teenager, Rihanna turned to singing as a release from her troubles at home. She formed a girl group with two classmates; when they were 15 years old, they scored an audition with music producer Evan Rodgers, who was visiting the island with his Barbadian wife. Rogers was awed by the precociously beautiful and talented Rihanna, to the unfortunate detriment of her two friends.

Less than a year later, when Rihanna was only 16 years old, she left Barbados to move in with Rogers and his wife in Connecticut and work on recording a demo album. 

Hit Singles on Def Jam

In January 2005, Rogers landed Rihanna an audition for Def Jam Records and its newly minted president, the legendary rapper Jay-Z. "I was in the lobby just shaking," she recalled. However, once Rihanna opened her voice to sing she regained her composure. "I remember staring into everybody's eyes in the room while I was singing, and at that point, I was fearless," she said. "But the minute I stopped singing, I was like, 'Oh my God, Jay-Z is sitting right in front of me.'" The hip-hop icon was every bit as wowed by Rihanna's commanding presence as Rogers had been two years earlier, and he signed her on the spot. 

Only eight months later, in August 2005, she released her first single, "Pon de Replay," a reggae-influenced club track that reached No. 2 on the Billboard singles chart and announced Rihanna as the next up-and-coming pop star. Her first album, Music of the Sun, released later that month, reached No. 10 on the Billboard albums chart and also featured the single "If It's Lovin' That You Want." Rihanna released her second album, A Girl Like Me, the next year, spawning two major hits in "Unfaithful" and "SOS," Rihanna's first No. 1 single.

'Unapologetic' and 'Anti'

On her Grammy-winning 2012 album Unapologetic, Rihanna turned out such hits as the No. 1 Sia Furler tune "Diamonds" and "Stay," featuring Mikky Ekko. (Interestingly, Unapologetic was the first Rihanna album to hit No. 1 on the pop charts.) She also worked with Coldplay on the track "Princess of China" and, the following year, reached No. 1 again with another Eminem collaboration, "The Monster." Around this time Rihanna also began to do movie work, co-starring in the sci-fi flick Battleship (2012) and later lending her voice to the lead character in the animated blockbuster Home (2015).

Known for her sexually provocative imagery and wild style, Rihanna made headlines for the sheer dress she wore to the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards ceremony in June 2014. She was there to receive the CFDA's Fashion Icon Award and told the crowd that "Fashion has always been my defense mechanism," according to an Associated Press report. Rihanna acknowledged that there were some rules to fashion, but explained that "rules are meant to be broken." Around this time, the singer made a bold professional move as well: She switched from the Def Jam label to Jay-Z's Roc Nation. 

In August 2015, NBC announced that Rihanna would be the key adviser onThe Voice's ninth season. That same year she contributed vocals to the single "FourFiveSeconds," a collaboration with West and famed Beatle Paul McCartney, as well as releasing "B**** Better Have My Money," a tune allegedly inspired by court wranglings with her former manager that also featured a highly controversial, violent music video. In 2015, Rihanna also became the first artist in history to have 100 million singles digitally downloaded and streamed. 

In late January 2016, Rihanna released her next album Anti, allowing Jay-Z's online streaming site Tidal to exclusively feature the collection of tracks for a week. The gambit paid off for the struggling service, with one million trial subscribers joining Tidal in less than a day to partake in a download promotion for Anti. The lead single off the album is "Work," featuring rapper Drake.

Rihanna started very small but succeed with her beautiful voice.I love you Rihanna and i ope you continue to make Barbados proud.

Thanks you Biography.Visit their website:http://www.biography.com/ to find out more information about other celebrities and their lives.

Bridgetown's History

History of Bridgetown

Bridgetown is steeped in rich history, evidenced in some of the centuries old British colonial architecture which remains today. This well-preserved city built in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, was originally named "Indian Bridge" for the rude bridge which had been constructed over the river (now known as the Careenage) by the Amerinidians. It was later called the "town of St. Michael" in official documents, before finally being named Bridgetown.

Bridgetown is home to many historical sites and attractions that are well worth a visit on your Barbados vacation. It is home to the Parliament Buildings of Barbados, National Heroes Square (formerly Trafalgar Square), Independence Square, St. Mary's Anglican Church - the site of the first city church, Jubilee Gardens - originally earmarked as a garden to commemorate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, the Chamberlain Bridge, the Careenage, the Jewish Synagogue - one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere, and so much more.

The Chamberlain Bridge was opened in 1872 and was a manually operated swing bridge allowing entry into the inner basin of the Careenage. In 2006 the Chamberlain Bridge was replaced with a modern lift bridge.

In previous times, the careenage was an important hub of activity for inter-island trading vessels. In fact, Bridgetown was often the first port of call for ships making the trans-Atlantic crossing from Africa. In the 17th century, it was regarded as the center of the British Atlantic trade, as an entrepôt for the trade of goods (especially sugar) and slaves. Today the careenage is mainly used by pleasure craft (catamarans, yachts, fishing boats, etc).

Parliament

The Parliament Buildings of Barbados are located at the top of Broad Street. The Barbados Parliament was established in 1639 and is the third oldest Parliament in the entire Commonwealth.

In 2006 the West Wing of Parliament underwent refurbishment. The refurbished buildings house the Barbados National Heroes Gallery and Barbados Museum of Parliament.Opposite the Parliament Buildings, you will find the old "Trafalgar Square" and a statue of Lord Nelson. The Lord Nelson statue, erected on 22 Mar 1813, is older than the statue and square of the same name and fame in London. "Trafalgar Square" was officially renamed National Heroes Square in April 1999, in honour of the national heroes of Barbados.

Thanks to Barbados.Org for this information.Check out their website:http://barbados.org/index.html for more info.

The History of the Garrison Savannah

The Barbados Garrison, largest in the British Colonies during the 18th and 19th centuries, is of great historic interest and offers many features, other than military, for those so inclined.  It was established in 1780 as the military headquarters for the Imperial Forces stationed here until 1905/6.  However, it began with St. Ann’s Fort, on its present site, in 1705.

Today it is the home of the Barbados Defence Force including the Barbados Coast Guard Force. Headquarters of the Barbados Cadet Corps is at Cherry Tree Cottage on Garrison Road, overlooking the Savannah.

The Barbados National Armoury was opened in 2004 inside the old naval magazine alongside the walls of St. Ann’s Fort. It is there Barbados’ impressive Gun Collection is housed, amongst which is an Elizabethan cannon of 1600, the only one known to exist anywhere in the world.

The imposing Drill Hall, first used as soldiers’ barracks and later as a commissariat, was built on to the walls of St. Ann’s Fort in 1790. Today, it is the Officers’ Mess, the Sergeants’ Mess and the Corporals’ Mess.

Over the years the Garrison area has expanded and now includes the Savannah as well as some buildings in Bay Street and Hastings. This Savannah is one of Barbados’ most popular recreational areas – for toddlers to octogenarians. Starting before dawn, continuing to well after dusk one sees walkers, joggers, rugby and basketball players, skate board enthusiasts, people flying kites, gossipers, lovers and those who just want to relax and watch the world go by.

Importantly, the Savannah is the home of the Barbados Turf Club whose Grand Stand and surrounds are packed to capacity on Gold Cup day which occurs the first Saturday in March every year. Other race meetings, held during the year, afford pleasant and relaxing occasions to be enjoyed by fans as well as casual onlookers. It was first used as a race track by regimental officers whose horses competed against those of wealthy plantation owners.

There are no facilities for the game of cricket there any more, but it was the venue of the first inter-colonial cricket match in 1860 between Barbados and British Guiana – as Guyana was then named. I don’t have to tell you who won the game! And, it was on this Savannah, in front of thousands of cheering supporters, that young Gary Sobers, the world famous Barbadian cricketer, knelt before Queen Elizabeth II to become Sir Garfield Sobers.

The Main Guard, overlooking the Savannah, is one of the area’s most outstanding buildings architecturally and has a unique George III Coat of Arms, in Coade stone, which was designed specially for this building.

In 1906, the Main Guard was bought locally and converted into the exclusive Savannah Club but is now owned by the Barbados Government and is the headquarters for organisations such as the Barbados Legion and Barbados Poppy League.  It has a most imposing clock tower which chimes its way through the day helping those with no time-pieces of their own.

Behind the Drill Hall there is the seashore.  During the period November to July it is very popular for wind-surfing, a sport that takes Barbadian competitors all over the world.

Moving north, down Garrison Hill, on to Bay Street, you will pass the Barbados Light & Power building on your left.  That was the Commissariat Provision Store at the end of the 18th century but later became the Garrison Theatre.  A hundred yards further on there is the Engineers’ Pier which leads to Hilton Barbados built on the old Charles Fort site and bounding on the Barbados Military Cemetery.  The latter is situated between the Charles and St. Ann’s forts and came into existence c1780.  Burials of ex-servicemen, women and their families have been taking place there ever since.

A few hundred yards on, again on your left, there is the Barbados Yacht Club, formerly Shot Hall, erected in 1810.  This was the private residence of the Officer Commanding the Royal Engineers.

Of course there are other imposing Garrison buildings, often built of London brick brought here as ballast, dating back to early days.  For example, there is the Stone Barracks, The West India Barracks, and Stafford House and also The Barbados Turf Club offices which were the Military Engineers Officers’ Quarters originally.

The Main Guard, overlooking the Savannah, is one of the area’s most outstanding buildings architecturally and has a unique George III Coat of Arms, in Coade stone, which was designed specially for this building.

In 1906, the Main Guard was bought locally and converted into the exclusive Savannah Club but is now owned by the Barbados Government and is the headquarters for organisations such as the Barbados Legion and Barbados Poppy League.  It has a most imposing clock tower which chimes its way through the day helping those with no time-pieces of their own.

Behind the Drill Hall there is the seashore.  During the period November to July it is very popular for wind-surfing, a sport that takes Barbadian competitors all over the world.

Moving north, down Garrison Hill, on to Bay Street, you will pass the Barbados Light & Power building on your left.  That was the Commissariat Provision Store at the end of the 18th century but later became the Garrison Theatre.  A hundred yards further on there is the Engineers’ Pier which leads to Hilton Barbados built on the old Charles Fort site and bounding on the Barbados Military Cemetery.  The latter is situated between the Charles and St. Ann’s forts and came into existence c1780.  Burials of ex-servicemen, women and their families have been taking place there ever since.

A few hundred yards on, again on your left, there is the Barbados Yacht Club, formerly Shot Hall, erected in 1810.  This was the private residence of the Officer Commanding the Royal Engineers.

Of course there are other imposing Garrison buildings, often built of London brick brought here as ballast, dating back to early days.  For example, there is the Stone Barracks, The West India Barracks, and Stafford House and also The Barbados Turf Club offices which were the Military Engineers Officers’ Quarters originally.

Pass these houses and turn left to travel east along Highway 7.  Soon you will see the Pavilion and Pavilion Court, at one time the Surgeon General’s quarters and the Garrison Hospital.  Not much further along, turn into St. Matthias Gap and find the beautiful St. Matthias Church.  This was the Garrison Church for the British Forces as it is now for the Barbados Defence Force and other military units.  There is a very impressive tomb in the graveyard erected in memory of those who died of yellow fever on the H.M.S. Dauntless.

An exploratory visit through the Garrison area can be most rewarding and affords an interesting trip back into the heritage of Barbados.

Thanks to Barbados.org for this wonderful information about the Garrison Savannah.

http://www.barbados.org/garrison.htm#.VwVELvkrLIV

Ghost Stories of Barbados

1. Fisherpond Great House- This plantation house which is over 350 years old has been said to be haunted by a number of different ghosts. One being, a young girl named Violet who drowned in the pond many many years ago. She tends to play games in the house such as locking people in the bathroom! Many bizarre happenings have been seen and heard by the owners- glasses clinking throughout the night and mysterious footsteps heard trekking up the stairs!

2. The Chase Mausoleum, Christ Church Cemetery- It has been said that the coffins of family members which were buried there in the early 1800's, moved around in the locked vault sometimes lining up vertically along the walls. At one point the Governor of Barbados personally sealed the vault but nine months later the coffins were all rearranged even though the seal of the vault had not been tampered with. To combat this phenomenon, the coffins were buried in different locations and now the empty Chase vault lies open for all to see.

3. Hanson Plantation House- This plantation house which is located in St. Michael, Barbados has been known to be haunted by slave workers. This plantation was owned by Sir John Berney and 66 African slave workers were held on this plantation in 1792. The family which currently resides at the house has witnesses on several occasions the paranormal activity such as slamming of doors and footsteps down corridors.

4. Halton Plantation House- On various occasions, an elderly man has been spotted roaming the house of Halton Plantation. No one quite knows exactly who this man is, however there is speculation that it may be the ghost of the Honourable Samuel Rouse Esq. who was buried in the family vault at Halton Plantation in 1784. Tucked away in one of the various cart roads, this vault can still be observed up to this day.

5. St. Lucy Parish Cemetery- Although no paranormal reports have been made about this cemetery, a very strange vault is located amongst the tombstones. This gravestone has inscribed on it, "This vault shall never be opened." It is said amongst many of the St. Lucy locals that two witches were burned at the stake and their ashes buried in this vault.So, If you are visiting Barbados and are in the mood to get a scare the three places open to the public are St. Lucy's Cemetery, The Chase Vault at Christ Church Cemetery and the vault at Hanson Plantation.

The History of Barbados

Barbados' History

Barbados is the eastern-most Caribbean island. It is located at 13.1N, 59.4W. The island, which is less that one million years old,  was created by the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates, along with a volcanic eruption. Later coral formed, accumulating to approximately 300 feet. It is geologically unique, being actually two land masses that merged together over the years. 
the Barbados Saga Begins - An Island Stands alone.

Very Early

The history of the early settlement of Barbados is being rewritten as a result of recent archaeological discoveries unearthed at the site of Port St. Charles. Artifacts and evidence point to settlement some time around 1623 B.C.

The first indigenous people were Amerindians who arrived here from Venezuela. Paddling long dugout canoes they crossed oceans and currents that challenge modern sailing vessels. On the north end of Venezuela a narrow sea channel called the Dragon's mouth acts as a funnel to the Caribbean sea and the nearest Island of Trinidad.  It is a formidable passage of swift flowing water and cross currents. It is dangerous water for an open dugout canoe. But they came, families and villages, adventurers, descendants of the the first people who travelled across the Alaska land bridge, down through Canada and the Americas to the South.

They made their new home in Barbados along the coast, leaving behind hardly a trace, only a hint of evidence for the archeologist to date and dream about.  Fragments of tools made of shell, utensils, refuse and burial places convey but a mystery of their time.

Amerindian Civilisation.

The Arawaks were short, olive-skinned people who bound their foreheads during infancy to slope it into a point. They considered this along with black and white body painting to be attractive. The CaÏques (chiefs) and influential members of the tribe wore nose plugs and/or rings made of copper and gold alloys (History of Barbados). They were an agricultural people and grew cotton, cassava, corn, peanuts, guavas, and papaws (papaya). The cotton was woven and used for armbands and hammocks. Cassava was ground and grated to be made into casareep, a seasoning used in cooking. The Arawaks also used harpoons, nets, and hooks, to fish for food.

1200 Carib Indians

In 1200, the Arawaks were conquered by the Caribs. The Caribs were a taller and stronger Amerindian tribe than the Arawaks.They were incredibly accurate bowmen and used a powerful poison to paralyze their prey. (History of Barbados). The culture has almost vanished from Barbados. Pockets of the culture and people, now know as the Kaligano, exist in St Vincent, the Grenadies and in Dominica. The largest population is the Kalinago territories in Dominica.

Portugese

The Portugese came to Barbados en route to Brazil. It was at this time that the island was named Los Barbados (bearded-ones) by the Portugese explorer Pedro a Campos. It was so named, presumably, after the island's fig trees, which have a beard-like appearance.

 English Colonisation

The first English ship touched the island on May 14th 1625 under the command of Captain John Powell. The island was therefore claimed on behalf of King James I.

On February 17th 1627, Captain Henry Powell landed with a party of 80 settlers and 10 slaves to occupy and settle the island. This expedition landed in Holetown formerly known as Jamestown. The colonists established a House of Assembly in 1639. It was the 3rd ever Parliamentary Democracy in the world.

During the 1630s, sugar cane was introduced to the agriculture. The production of sugar, tobacco and cotton was heavily reliant on the indenture of servants. White civilians who wanted to emigrate overseas could do so by signing an agreement to serve a planter in Barbados for a period of 5 or 7 years. To meet the labour demands, servants were also derived from kidnapping, and convicted criminals were shipped to Barbados. Descendants of the white slaves and indentured labour (referred to as Red Legs) still live in Barbados, they live amongst the black population in St. Martin's River and other east coast regions. At one time they lived in caves in this region.

Sugar and Slavery

A potential market formed for slaves and sugar-making machinery by the Dutch Merchants who were to supply Barbados with their requirements of forced labour from West Africa. The slaves came from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana,the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon. Many slaves did not survive the journey from Africa, but many thousands still reached their destination.

The Barbadians dominated the Caribbean Sugar Industry in these early years. The sugar plantation owners were powerful and successful businessmen who had arrived in Barbados in the early years.

Many natural disasters occurred in the late 1600s, such as the locust plague of 1663, the Bridgetown fire and a major hurricane in 1667. Drought in 1668 ruined some planters and excessive rain in 1669 added to their financial problems. However, investment continued in sugar and slaves and was perceived to have good prospects.

By 1720 Barbadians were no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry. They had been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and the Jamaica.

Abolition, rebellion and emancipation

After slavery was abolished in 1834, many of the new citizens of Barbados took advantage of the superb education available on the island. After these citizens had been educated, they wanted something more than working in the cane fields. Some of them gained prominent offices in Barbados. Others worked in common jobs, and still others stayed in the cane fields.

Slavery, abolished in 1834, was followed by a 4-year apprenticeship period during which free men continued to work a 45-hour week without pay in exchange for living in the tiny huts provided by the plantation owners.  Freedom from slavery was celebrated in 1838 at the end of the apprenticeship period with over 70,000 Barbadians of African descent taking to the streets with the Barbados folk song:

"Lick an Lock-up Done Wid, Hurray fuh Jin-Jin (Queen Victoria).
De Queen come from England to set we free
Now Lick an Lock-up Done Wid, Hurray fuh Jin-Jin "

1961-1966 Independence

Barbados was first occupied by the British in 1627 and remained a British colony until internal autonomy was granted  in 1961. The Island gained full independence in 1966, and maintains ties to the Britain monarch represented in Barbados by the Governor General. It is a member of the Commonwealth.  The first leader of Barbados as a free nation was the Right Honourable Errol Walton Barrow, of the Democratic Labour Party. The other major political party is the Barbados Labour Party, led by the current Prime Minister - The Right Honourable Owen Arthur. In 1989, the National Democratic Party was formed. Its leader was Dr.Richie Haynes.

Thanks for all the information: http://www.barbados.org/history1.htm#.VwPsvvkrLIU

The History of Sam Lord's Castle

Samuel Hall Lord was a famous buccaneer known on the island of Barbados. He was a very wealthy man who lived in a castle-mansion in the parish of St. Philip that was built in 1820. It all began back in 1778 when John Lord and Bathsheba Hall sergeant welcomed him into the world. Samuel had two brothers and three sisters. When his parents died in the early 1800’s, Samuel and one of his brothers inherited everything their parents owned which included their slaves (most of which were Barbadians and a few of them Africans) and the Long Bay and pool plantations.  Samuel, along with one of his brothers, lived on the 72-acre plot in the plantation house that their parents had left behind.  However, it was replaced shortly after their deaths, also in the early 1800’s, with a Georgian style mansion/castle which Samuel re- named ‘Sam Lord’s Castle’.

Sam Lord's Castle back in 1800's

Original Document of Slaves on the Plantation


Sam Lord married an English woman named Lucy Wightwick, against her family’s wishes and they sailed from England back to Barbados in 1809.  They had three daughters named Oceanus, Emma Lucy and Cecelia. Oceanus died when she was two years old and the two other daughters were born a year and seven months apart.   Emma Lucy was born on 22nd of April, 1811 and Cecelia was born on the 17th of November, 1812. It is said that he often kept his wife locked in the basement while he enjoyed the fine treasures and art that he stole (Butler, 1991), however, it is said that she eventually escaped home to England by bribing the slave jailer with jewels. Samuel also had children with one of the maids at the estate; together they had two boys - Edward Samuel Lord and William Lord.   Edward married a woman named Elizabeth Armour and moved to St. Lucia where they raised their four children.


In 1831 ‘The Great Hurricane’ struck the island of Barbados.  This Category 4 hurricane partially destroyed the castle and it took until 1834 to finish rebuilding it.   Samuel Lord was known as one of the most unusual and creative pirates within the Caribbean, because rather than facing the seas like most pirates, he found a very unique way of making his profits by conquering pirate ships from on land.

Legend has it that Sam Lord hung lanterns in the coconut trees on the beach near his castle to attract ships.  The confused captains, thinking that the lanterns were for the lights of Bridgetown, would wreck their ships on the reef when trying to dock. He would then board the ships and keep the cargo and riches for his castle. However, there is great speculation as to whether Sam Lord actually committed these crimes.  He is accused of causing shipwrecks that occurred on their own.  The confusion exists because some records show that at the time when some of the shipwrecks occurred Sam was not even on the island (Bladen). Before May in 1875, when the lighthouse at Ragged Point was built, wrecks on Cobblers Reef were frequent. Even when the lighthouse was built the ships continued to run aground.   In calm weather the crew would usually be able to get ashore, but when the seas were rough from bad weather the ships would be forced into the rocks and reef and then into the shallow water near Long Bay.  Documentation of  wrecks, gathered by Captain Wish R.N,  show when Sam Lord was on the island and could be accused of the wrecks, as well as  when he was not there and therefore was innocent of the accusation of the wrecks which occurred. These documents record about 20 years of ship wrecks. From the 1820’s to the 1834’s there were 5 wrecks and from 1835 to 1841 there were 16 wrecks.

1820-1834

• In 1826 the Shipley, a Military Transport was lost with many lives.
• Between that date and 1832 an unnamed vessel was wrecked.
• In 1833 the Barque Wanderer was wrecked.
• On 10th December 1834 the Brig. Regina was lost.On 17th December 1834 the Seven Brothers was wrecked.

For these five wrecks, Sam Lord has been said to have been away for three of those years, which was from 1824 to 1827, therefore he could not have been seen as responsible for the ship wreck in 1826 . In the 1833 ship wreck, Sam had entertained the Captain of the Barque Wanderer for a few weeks and so there really could be no connection to him leading that Captain astray and making him crash into the reef and rocks. Sam was also away on a trip to England from 1834 to the beginning of 1839 and so would have not been involved in the two wrecks in December of 1834.This leaves only the unnamed vessel that wrecked between 1827 and 1832 that Sam Lord could have caused.  From the years 1835 to 1841 a total of 16 ship- wrecks were recorded near Long Bay.  Documents also show that Sam Lord was in England from 1835 to 1839 when he travelled back to Barbados. Among those 16 wrecks recorded only the names of two were noted.

• June 28th, 1840. The Brig. Susan Crane was lost on Cobblers Reef. (At this point Sam was barely back on the island.)
• July 13th, 1840. The Barque Esmeralda sank.  (Sam had been entertaining the Trollopes at a wedding party for his niece, Frances.  He therefore could not have been chasing after wrecked ships along the coast as he would have been too busy and not want to expose his criminal side of how he accumulated his riches, in their presence).

It is said by some that these treasures were stored in a network of tunnels and in the dungeon located under the beach and the castle, however this tunnel has never been located’ (Loop Barbados, 2013).


At the age of 67 in 1884, after constantly being at odds with the law, Sam left for England and on November 5th later that year Sam Lord died. He was buried in the catacombs of the Kensal green cemetery. After his death, the Trollope’s inherited Sam Lord’s Castle through his niece Frances, who had married into the Trollope family³. Frances however, gave up her rights to her Uncle Sam’s estates during his lifetime in order to get a £1,000 payment every year, which in the end she had never received. Her marriage terms became more of a lawsuit after Sam’s death, which then turned into Trollope’s gaining possession of his estate’s after his death because they had purchased Sam’s outstanding interests from mortgages in 1847.



Here is Samuel Lord's resting place

Through the years after his death, the estate had many different owners.  At first  it was rented  out for the summer, just like any other ‘Beach house’ in Barbados.   In 1940, a man named George Stewart who was an English insurance magnate bought the property and spent almost £1 million to restore the castle with chandeliers, plaster work ceilings, gilt framed regency mirrors and furniture.  Thirty-two years after, Marriot took over the estate in 1972, and the Castle was then transformed into a beautiful hotel where visitors from around the world would come to stay while vacationing in Barbados. The hotel even had some of Sam Lord’s original antique pieces on display for viewing.   However, after ending up with large  amounts of debt, the property was bought and sold several times over. In 2006, an auction was held to sell many of the antique furnishings in the castle and then these owners hoped to transform the beautiful historic landmark into a hotel again, but three years went by and in 2009, Sam Lord’s Castle was still crumbling with nothing being done to help save the buildings and its environs.   A year later on October 20th 2010, the castle was destroyed by a fire and the grounds were finally closed to the public.


More than a century has passed since Sam Lord’s death, but the legends told about his exploits and life still seem to thrill the Barbadian children.  The Merry men have kept this legend alive through their folk song on Sam Lord, as the castle and its notions of piracy  still continues to be a source of intrigue to our visitors.


Thanks to
http://www.bcc.edu.bb/Divisions/FineArts/SamuelHallLord.aspx