Speightstown is a city in Barbados.
 Barbados National Bank building (left) and Arlington House Museum (right) | ||
| Speightstown | ||
| Parich | Saint Peter | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2.200 (2011) | |
other value for residents on Wikidata: 2192   | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
| ||
background
Presumably this place was founded in 1630, the name goes back to the British landowner, merchant and parliamentarian William Speight back from Bristol, who was significantly involved in the development of the place. From here cotton, tobacco and all sugar was shipped to Bristol, which earned the place the nickname Little Bristol. On the way to the Caribbean, the ships brought ballast stones with them, from which many of the town's houses were built.
Denmark Fort (today Esplanade) and Orange Fort (today fish market) secured the port and place with a total of 23 cannons. Dover Fort is now used in part by the District Police. Some of the cannons are now on the esplanade overlooking the sea. Remains of the fortifications can be seen in the city center. When the road connections were not that good, fast sailing ships could get from Speightstown to Bridgetown in 45 minutes.
The oldest surviving warehouses and houses such as B. The Manse from the 19th century stand near the free port. In 1941 a fire near the bridge on Queen Street destroyed many of these old buildings.
Today Speightstown is relatively quiet and relaxing, with Queen Street running parallel to the waterfront as the main street. Here you will find shops, offices, a supermarket, the fishing complex and some good restaurants. It is the only place where you can see some of the original, architecturally valuable large houses of the then wealthy merchants. Other historic buildings are the old post office and the library.
A large bus station has been built behind Queen Street, with regular services to various parts of the island. In the same year the Speightstown Mall was built. It is one of the largest on the island. There are also banks and restaurants here.
After less than 1½ km north of Speightstown you reach Six Mens Bay with the new marina complex Port Saint Charles. To the north-east of the place are a number of tourist attractions: Barbados Wildlife Reserve, Cherry Tree Hill, Farley Hill National Park, Grenade Hall Forest, Morgan Lewis Mill and St. Nicholas Abbey.
getting there
In the street
Speightstown can be reached from Bridgetown and the airport either on the coastal road (Highway 7 and Highway 1) or via the motorway-like A B C Highway and Highway 2 A, which runs parallel to Highway 1 at a distance of two to three kilometers.
mobility
buses
Local service is provided by Transport Board Barbados served, the buses go to Sprightstown Terminal. On Sundays there are various Scenic Tours for BDS $ 20 / adult. and BDS $ 12 / child.
Gas stations
Tourist Attractions
- St. Peter's Parish Church. On the corner of Church and Queen Street in Speightstown is St. Peter's Parish Church, built around 1630. It is one of the oldest churches on the island. After being damaged by the hurricane of 1831, it was largely renewed in the Georgian style in 1837. It fell victim to a fire 20 years ago and was rebuilt in 1980 for 750,000 Bds dollars.
- Barbados Wildlife Reserve, across the street from the Grenade Hall signal tower. Game reserve, it is a project of the Barbados Primate Research Center, this is a non-profit organization. In a mahogany forest, various animal species (including crocodiles, pelicans, parrots, otters and deer) are kept free and can be observed. Particular attention is paid to the monkeys, Barbados Green Monkey. Refreshments and souvenirs are sold.Open: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Admission: 23 Bds $, children under 12 years half.
- Cherry Tree Hill. Cherry Tree Hill, with its 550 m long mahogany and cassowary avenue, is home to numerous wild capuchin monkeys. Further on, the road leads west after 750 m to the Morgan Lewis Mill.
- Farley Hill National Park, Farley Hill. Tel.: 422-8826, Fax: 422-8946. National Park, Signal Tower and Great House. The house from 1818 was renovated in 1861 on the occasion of the visit of the then Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Albert, and was also frequently visited by the English royal family in later years. It belonged to Sir Thomas Graham Briggs. In 1956 it was the location for the Harry Belafonte film "Island in the Sun". It was destroyed by fire in 1965. The government then bought the area. In February 1966 it was inaugurated as a national park by Queen Elizabeth II. The Grenade Hall signal tower was not restored until 1992.Open: daily 8.30 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.Price: Admission is free, but parking costs a fee: minibuses 12 Bds $, cars 3 Bds $, motorbikes 1.50 Bds $.
- Morgan Lewis Mill. Tel.: 422-9222. Best preserved Dutch style windmill, built by Dutch Jews at the beginning of the sugar industry and in use until 1944. The mill was restored and restored at great expense by the National Trust, it is technically in working condition. It is about 2 km southeast of Cherry Tree Hill.Open: daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: 5 Bds $, children pay half.
- Nicholas Abbey, near the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. Tel.: 422-8725. Manor house built around 1650 by Colonel Benjamin Berringer. It is possibly the oldest surviving building on the island. The only comparable building is in Virginia, USA. The property was furnished by its architect with tall chimneys and looks very "Scottish". The furnishings consist of British period furniture from the colonial era. In the middle of sugar cane fields, the property lies between 30 m high palm and mahogany trees. In 1663 the house became the property of Sir John Yeamans. He sailed from Speightstown to Carolina, USA, colonized it, and became the third governor of South Carolina. There is a souvenir shop and a mini cinema showing a black and white film about plantation life and sugar production.Open: Mon - Fri 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Price: Entry 5 Bds $.
museum
- Arlington Museum. The Arlington Museum near the harbor has only been open to the public as a museum for a few months. It is an 18th century building where ship chandlers used to work, and it is also one of the oldest buildings in the city. It also documents a rare English architectural style. It has three floors and consists of limestone foundations more than 60 cm thick, which were grouted with a mass of sand, molasses and egg white. The work rooms were on the first floor, the living rooms on the first floor and the bedrooms on the upper floor. The second floor has a wraparound balcony on three sides with a stone staircase and the entrance to the living rooms. Next to these stairs was a frangipani tree, they say it was the oldest and largest on the island, unfortunately it had to be removed during the restoration work. From 1950 it was used as a hospital. In 2000 it was taken over by the Barbados National Trust. Today the "Speightstown Memories", an exhibition on the city's history, is located on the ground floor. On the middle floor there is an exhibition about sugar cane plantations and slave life. Pieces of maritime history are shown on the upper floor.
activities
fitness
- Superior fitness gym, Speightstown Mall. Tel.: 422-0721.
golf
Marinas
- Port St. Charles, Speightstown. Tel.: 422-1800, 419-1000, Fax: 422-4646, 422-7447. Immigration authorities, police, customs, hotel, helicopter landing pad. You can rent houses and villas there, short or long term.
horse riding
- Caribbean International Riding Center, Cleland Plantation, Duncan O'Neal Highway, near Barbados Wildlife Reserve and Farley Hill. Tel.: 422-7433, Fax: 422-6746.
Diving
- Reefers & Wreckers Dive Shop, Orange Street, Speightstown. Tel.: 422-5450. Price: Introductory course US $ 90, PADI advanced course US $ 325, PADI deep water with certificate US $ 425.
shop
- Cloister Bookstore, Queen Street. Tel.: 422-0434.
- Craft Box Boutique, Speightstown Mall. Tel.: 422-7620.
- De Movie Studio, Church Street. Tel.: 422-6799.
- Edann's boutique, Church Street. Tel.: 422-0756.
- Firstpage bookstore, Church Street. Tel.: 422-3111.
- fish market, at the port.
- Frangipani Art Gallery, Sugar Cane Club Hotel, Maynards. Tel.: 422-5026.
- Gifts `N´ Things, The Town Square. Tel.: 422-5842.
- Material things, Church Street. Tel.: 422-1313.
- Styles Boutique, Queen Street. Tel.: 422-0142.
- The Town Square Shopping Center. Tel.: 243-7308.
- Adriana´s Shopping Complex, Queen Street.
- Omni Corporate Center, Goodings Alley.
- Northern Business Center, Queen Street.
kitchen
- A J's restaurant, Church Street. Tel.: 422-3869.
- Chefette, Highway 1. Tel.: 419-3500.
- Farmer Browne's Bistro, Road View. Tel.: 422-5871.
- Fisherman Pub & Beach Bar, Queen Street. Tel.: 422-2703.
- Grand Plan Chinese Restaurant, Church Street. Tel.: 422-3149.
- La Mer, Port St. Charles Marina. Tel.: 419-2000. International, very expensive.Open: Mon - Sat from 6.30 p.m., Sun from 12 p.m.
- Mango's By the Sea, across from Barbados National Bank, Queen Street. Tel.: 422-0704. West Indian, very expensive.Open: Mon - Fri from 6 p.m.
- Mullins Restaurant, Mullins Beach. Tel.: 422-2044.
- O'Cristal's Sports Bar & Café, Church Street. Tel.: 422-4051.
- Pizza Man Doc, Queen Street. Tel.: 422-1432.
- Roti Den, Town Square. Tel.: 439-8378.
- St. Maria Bar & Restaurant, Farm Road. Tel.: 422-2768.
- The dungeon, Jordan´s Mall. Tel.: 422-1575.
- Wadani's Bar & Restaurant, Doris Plaza. Tel.: 422-4692.
Hotel restaurants
- Almond Beach Village, Six Men's Bay. Tel.: 422-4900. Boardwalk Bar & Grill, beach restaurant; Enid’s, Bajan Kitchen, only open in the evening; Horizons, main restaurant, buffet or á la carte menu, daily change; La Samarrita, northern Italian, no guests under 16 years of age; The Reef, buffet restaurant for breakfast and lunch; turns into a fish restaurant in the evening.
- Cobblers Cove, Road View. Tel.: 422-2291. The Terrace, seafood restaurant, very expensive; The Terrace Bar, pool bar, open: daily 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
- Port Saint Charles Marina. Tel.: 419-2000. Onyx bar; Sunset Isle pool bar; Yacht Club Restaurant.
accommodation
- Almond Beach Village (ex Heywoods), Six Men's Bay. Tel.: 422-4900, Fax: 422-0617. 365 rooms in 11 categories. All inclusive hotel. 5 restaurants, 4 bars, 9 pools, daily evening entertainment, animation, shops, disco, fitness center, 9-hole golf course, children's club, squash, 5 tennis courts, beach, fishing, sailing, surfing, diving, water skiing. Location: in 120,000 m² gardens, 1 km from Speightstown. Shuttle bus to the Hotel Almond Beach Club.Characteristic: ★★★.
- Cobblers Cove, Highway 1, Road View. Tel.: 422-2291, Fax: 422-1460. 40 suites, restaurant, bar, pool, souvenir shop, fitness room, 1 tennis court, beach, sailing, surfing, diving, water skiing.Characteristic: ★★★.Price: In summer: Suite for 1 person US $ 405-615, Suite for 2 persons US $ 465-1,135; in winter: Suite for 1 person US $ 330-375, Suite for 2 persons US $ 515-1,285. Rental prices including taxes.
- King's Beach, Mullins Bay, Road View. Tel.: 422-1690, Fax: 422-1691. 57 rooms. All inclusive hotel. Restaurant, bar, freshwater pool, boutique, children's club, children's playground, live music, floodlit tennis court, beach, sailing, surfing, diving, water skiing.Characteristic: ★★★★.
- Little Good Harbor, Shermans. Tel.: 439-3000, Fax: 439-2020. 15 rooms, restaurant, bar, pool, beach. Location: 1.1 km behind Port Saint Charles.Price: In summer: single 226-379 US $, double 301-506 US $; in winter: single US $ 302-540, double US $ 413-720.
- Port Saint Charles, Heywoods. Tel.: 419-1000, Fax: 422-4646. 20 villas, 10 apartments, restaurant, bar, pool, fitness room, 2 floodlit tennis courts, heli-port, marina.Price: Apartments and villas depending on size and location US $ 468-2,075.
- Sugar Cane Club, Maynards, Six Men's Bay. Tel.: 422-5026, Fax: 422-0522. 22 rooms, restaurant, bar, pool, sauna. Location: 5 minutes by car from the beach.Characteristic: ★★.Price: In summer: single / double 48 US $; in winter: single / double room 78 US $.
Apartments
- Caspian Beach Apartments, Queen Street. Tel.: 422-2520, Fax: 422-2025. Price: In summer: Apartment US $ 115; in winter: Apartment US $ 160. Rental prices plus 7.5% taxes.
health
doctors
- Speightstown Medical Center. Tel.: 422-5023.
Pharmacies
- O'Hana Pharmacy, Gillls Terrace. Tel.: 422-1800, Fax: 419-1622. Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Pharmaceuticals Plus, Speightstown Mall. Tel.: 422-1095.
