Things That Matter: Strict guardians of our heritage
1/12/2014
By Henry S. Fraser
There are no more poignant, more meaningful, and in 2014 more relevant words than those last two lines of our National Anthem: “Strict guardians of our heritage, firm craftsmen of our fate.” And there is no entity that strives harder against the forces of nature and the human forces of philistinism to guard our beautiful natural heritage and built heritage, our cultural and creative heritage, than the Barbados National Trust.
The Trust is a body incorporated by Act of Parliament for the preservation of places of historic, architectural and archaeological interest and of ecological importance or natural beauty. Unfortunately the love of money (“root of all evil”, says the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:10) and the total disregard for both natural beauty and beautiful craftsmanship has destroyed a great deal of our historic and architectural heritage and concretised many square miles of good agricultural lands and gorgeous landscape – on beach, hill and dale. Fortunately, the inscription of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison has awoken many people to the value of our heritage; and if only we would sing our national anthem instead of standing stiff like dummies many more of us might be inspired not only to recognise our beauty but do something to save it.
Every year, between January and April, the Trust organises its main fund raising event – the Open House programme. Generous owners of historic houses or splendid and unusual architect-designed villas lend their homes for an afternoon to the Trust, to be visited and enjoyed by everyone. For an unrealistically modest fee (reduced for members) visitors enjoy “Open House” – the antiques and beautiful art, the gorgeous gardens, an array of the best fine craft in Barbados, and a book stall with almost all of the books on heritage, history, culture and social history of Barbados, including the National Trust and Hotel Association’s magnificent coffee table Anniversary books. Snacks and drinks (and rum punch, of course), lively company, often live music, and a humorous and entertaining “Lively Lecture” on a relevant topic by famous historian Dr. Karl Watson or yours truly complete the afternoon.
This year’s programme is an “all new” Star Cast. It opens with the magnificent Clifton Hall Great House, this Wednesday afternoon, January 15. This extraordinary house was for 30 years the home of the late Peter Morgan, former World War 2 pilot, friend of our National Hero and Prime Minister the Right Excellent Errol Barrow, and former Minister of Tourism. In Peter Morgan’s day it played host frequently to Errol Barrow and many political gatherings.
The house is an amazing architectural gem; in fact it’s a combination of a 17th century three-storey medieval plantation house, to which was added a grand Georgian mansion, probably in the 1780s. Have you ever seen a “poor relation’s room” of a plantation house? A tank converted to a swimming pool? A 19th century glass chandelier? A dining table to seat 20? The unique, elegant Barbadian cellarette? Many of the reproduction Barbadian antiques are from the workshop of Dasrat Sugrim. All of these and more await you at Clifton Hall Great House, as well as a real, live Scottish piper, with his pipe…
And the piper is perfect for the occasion because the owners of Clifton Hall are two Scots, Massimo and Karen Franchi, who fell in love with this gem just over three years ago, and have lavished love, sweat and tears to restore it to perfection. With the help of local labour and craftsmen – plumbers, carpenters and masons – and working alongside them over more than two years, Massimo has repaired, restored, replaced and improved with beautiful bathrooms and other features to translate a very ancient house into a comfortable home of great beauty.
On the following Wednesday, January 22 Colleton House is open, with its eclectic collection of fine European, Asian and African art in the great house, and a unique collection of Papua New Guinea folk art and sculpture, amassed by the late Australian geologist Frank Rickwood. This collection “blows people away!”
For the first time in a long time, Codrington College follows – the ancient Principal’s Lodge, a 1670 mansion embellished in the Georgian era, and the College Buildings – built in the 1730s / 40s, damaged badly by fire 90 years ago and restored then and again in 1990 by a million dollar fund raised by the National Trust. The gardens and vistas of Codrington provide a Paradise within Paradise.
The other Open Houses this season are Fisherpond House of the award-winning Bajan buffet lunches and candlelight dinners; Sugarwater – an eco-friendly villa at Apes Hill with superb views; Foursquare Heritage Park, Guinea Great House in St. John, Grendon House in Sandy Lane, Lamberts in St. Joseph, Power’s House above Gun Hill, and Wildey Great House – the National Trust Headquarters, with its famous antique collection.
This programme is now world famous, with many winter visitors checking it out and planning their stay to match houses they’ve not seen in the previous years. It’s obviously of interest to anyone with an interest in architecture, design, art and craft, gardens and landscaping, heritage and social history… in other words, most people! And through the generosity of the hosts, it’s a huge help in funding the Trust’s work to save and preserve our natural and built heritage – the only real solution to our tourism re-branding.
Brickbat of the week: Not only to the driver with 78 convictions who caused the dreadful accident and death on Thursday, but to the court system that allowed him and so many others like him to continue driving and causing accidents and deaths. Why?
• Professor Fraser is past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine. Website: profhenryfraser.com
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