St. Ann's Garrison, or more commonly known as "The Garrison", is a small district located in the country of Barbados. This Garrison Historic Area is situated about 3.2 km (2 mi) south of Heroes Square in the capital-city Bridgetown, and just west of the village of Hastings in the neighbouring parish of Christ Church. It is dominated by its historic horse race-track, located on the 12 ha (30-acre) parade ground called the Garrison Savannah. The Garrison area additionally contains many historic buildings including barracks for military personnel. The district is bisected by Highway 7, with Saint Ann's Fort, where the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is based, lying to the west.
| Garrison Historic Area | |
|---|---|
 The Stone Barracks in the Garrison Historic Area | |
| Location | Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Coordinates | 13°5′48″N 59°36′50″W / 13.09667°N 59.61389°W |
| Official name | Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, vi |
| Designated | 2011 |
| Reference no. | 1376 |
| Region | The West Indies |
History edit
During both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the Garrison was the base and headquarters for members of the British West India Regiment in Barbados. In 1751, the future leader of the American Revolution and first president of the United States, George Washington, stayed with his sick brother at the district's Bush Hill section for six weeks. This restored property remains as a fixture at the Garrison where it is simply called the 'George Washington House'.[1] By the middle of the eighteenth century, wealthy prominent Barbadians and regiment troops started the sporting tradition of horse racing at the Garrison racetrack.
On 30 November 1966 the Garrison Historic Area was the location where the ceremony was held for the lowering of the Union Flag (the flag of the United Kingdom), and the raising of the Barbados flag, thus ushering in full independence for the country of Barbados from the United Kingdom.
There are a number of historically significant buildings at the location, other than George Washington House. Many of these housed the Regiment units of the British Garrison, including the building that houses the Barbados Museum and surrounding buildings. Evidence of this includes prison cells of the former Garrison.
Gallery edit
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The Barbados National Cannon Collection, with some of the most rare and oldest English cannons -
Garrison signage along Highway 7 -
Sign on the main guard house at the Garrison Savannah -
Clock tower on the main guardhouse at the Garrison Savannah built around 1803 -
The main guardhouse building at the Garrison Savannah built around 1803
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See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ "Historical Facts on George Washingtons visit to Barbados in 1751". Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
References edit
- Hartland, Major Michael (December 2007). A Concise & Illustrated Military History. Miller Publishing Company. ISBN 978-976-8215-20-8.
- Hartland, Major Michael (9 December 2009). The Great Guns of Barbados. Miller Publishing Company. ISBN 978-976-95153-5-2.
- Garrison is world heritage site Archived 13 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Great Cannons of Barbados[permanent dead link], by M. Hartland
- The Garrison, Heritage Tours