THE HISTORIC GARRISON
You're Gunner Love The Garrison
It was home to the most famous American of all time, houses one of the most extensive collections of cannon in the world yet a secret lies beneath that few have explored. And the good news is it's just a short walk from Coconut Court.
This is The Garrison, known today mainly for its horse racing and as the only place outside the USA that George Washington lived, albeit for a short period during 1751.
HQ of the British West India Regiment
Here in Barbados, a youthful Washington was impressed with the warm hospitality and genteel behaviour of the islanders - nice to know that something's don't change! It was his first glimpse of a wider world outside his home of Virginia and made a lasting impact.
Just a stone’s throw from The Garrison Savannah race track is the former plantation house where the eventual first president of the USA stayed. Now called George Washington House, it was restored in 1999 and is well worth a visit.
While on Barbados, Washington mixed with the island’s military and civilian elite and noted fairly quickly that Barbados was “one entire fortification”. The Garrison was the headquarters of the British West India Regiment and consequently the most fortified British island in the Caribbean.
Cromwell's Cannon
Evidence of this remains even today. Dotted around The Garrison and inside The National Armoury (housed in nearby St Ann’s Fort) is the largest collection of 17th century English cannons, including the famous Commonwealth Cannon.
It bears the crest of Oliver Cromwell, the man responsible for the execution of King Charles I of England.
After Cromwell’s death, royalty was restored and the first act of Charles II was to remove all traces of Cromwell’s rule. All of Cromwell’s cannons were destroyed, apart from one which remains here at The National Armoury (the other's in The Tower of London). Less famous cannons are littered around the coast and can also be seen guarding the entrance to Carlisle Bay at Charles Fort, a short walk away at Needham’s Point.
Also inside the armoury is the first Barbados flag, raised in 1966 at The Garrison when the island became independent of Britain. A much larger and newer version flies today at the spot of this historic occasion.
Secret passageways...
Once a week, there’s a re-enactment of the changing of the sentry. This takes place in front of the 1814 clock tower (that’s not the time, it’s the year it was built).
And below The Garrison is a network of tunnels, built by the British, but only unearthed and opened to the public recently. One of the tunnels runs from George Washington House.
It is thought they were built as open ditches to drain the swamps which were on the site before the British arrived. They were then enclosed with arched ceilings and used as secret passageways to move soldiers around the south coast.
Night at end of the tunnel
Legend has it that a British military officer stationed at The Garrison murdered his wife and used the tunnels to reach the sea, where he disposed of her body one dark, windy night...
And you may recognise one of the guides taking you through the tunnels... James Blades is a member of the family that runs Coconut Court!
The Garrison is walking distance from Coconut Court. You can visit the tunnels, George Washington House and the National Armoury. See Vaida Blades in the activities centre for more details.