St. Ann's Garrison, or more commonly known as "The Garrison", is a small district located in the country of

Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...

. This Garrison Historic Area is situated about 2 miles south of

Heroes Square Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...

in the capital-city

Bridgetown Bridgetown (UN/LOCODE: BB BGI) is the capital and largest city of Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Island ...

, and just west of the

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

in the neighbouring

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...

of Christ Church. It is dominated by its historic horse race-track, located on the 30 acre parade ground called the

Garrison Savannah The Garrison Savannah in the country of Barbados, is a horse racing venue located within the Garrison Historic Area, just outside the capital-city Bridgetown. A clockwise grass course, the Garrison Savannah is known internationally for the annual ...

. 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 The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is the name given to the combined armed forces of Barbados. The BDF was established 15 August 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the ...

(BDF) is based, lying to the west.

History

A monument positioned near the military hospital in Barbados Wellcome V0015774

During both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the Garrison was the base and headquarters for members of the British

West India Regiment The West India Regiments (WIR) were infantry units of the British Army recruited from and normally stationed in the British colonies of the Caribbean between 1795 and 1927. In 1888 the two West India Regiments then in existence were reduced t ...

in Barbados. In 1751, the future leader of the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

and first president of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

, 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'. 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 Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. Although no law has been passed making the Union Flag the official national flag of the United Kingdom, it has effectively become such through precedent. ...

(the flag of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

), and the raising of the Barbados flag, thus ushering in full

independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...

for the country of Barbados from the

. 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

File:Garrison area cannons, Barbados.jpg, The Barbados National Cannon Collection, with some of the most rare and oldest English cannons File:Garrison area (sign), Barbados.jpg, Garrison signage along Highway 7 File:Main Guardhouse Garrison area (sign), Barbados.jpg, Sign on the main guard house at the Garrison Savannah File:Main Guardhouse Garrison building (top), Barbados.jpg, Clock tower on the main guardhouse at the Garrison Savannah built around 1803 File:Main Guardhouse Garrison building (bottom), Barbados.jpg, The main guardhouse building at the Garrison Savannah built around 1803

Notes

References

* *
Garrison is world heritage site

Great Cannons of Barbados
by M. Hartland
The Garrison
Heritage Tours

External links

Barbados' UNESCO World Heritage applicationBridgetown and its Garrison
– UNESCO World Heritage Centre

* * {{Royal Navy fleets Saint Michael, Barbados Military of Barbados Districts of Barbados Historic sites in Barbados

History

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

External links