Antigua & Barbuda Destination Guide

In the Caribbean, Antigua is known as the father of Methodism. The Ebenezer Methodist Church is on St. Mary's Street in St. John's. It was first established in 1839 but damaged by earthquakes twice - first in 1843 and later in 1974. The church was rededicated in 1983.

In the past, Antigua was a major source of sugar. For a certain period sugar was "king" and African people were brought in as slaves to work on the sugarcane fields. There are about 114 sugar mill towers still standing today. Grinding rollers squeezed juice out of sugarcane in these towers. The juice was then turned into sugar in the boiling houses. The powerful trade winds were the source of power in the mills. 

Each tower had three openings usually. The entrance arch was for the cane to enter the mill and the exit arch for the crushed cane or bagasse. The bagasse was used as fuel in the boilers. The third opening, called the exchange slit, was a long slit used to change the drive shaft when necessary. This long wooden vertical shaft communicated between the mill machinery and the sails used to harness the wind power.

Two old mills still standing are the ones built at Claremont, believed to be the first mill, and the one at Savannah near Cobb's Cross. The Irish Piggot family are believed to be the first sugar mill builders. From just 34 sugar mills in 1705, the number shot up to 175 by 1748. The 1843 earthquake destroyed 35 of them. Body Ponds, Union, Renfrews and Constitution Hill were where the sugar mills last functioned. The sugar mill at Betty's Hope was fully restored in 1994 and this draws a lot of visitors.

A historically significant site, Shirley Heights is today more famous for the stunning views of the English Harbour rather than the military stronghold it was during the time of the British. A popular Sunday afternoon activity is to enjoy the view from among the ruins of the military structures, tuck into a barbecue accompanied by rum punch and listen to the steel band and reggae music.

The site is named after the 18^th century Governor of the Leeward Islands, General Shirley. He fortified the area during his tenure.

Close to the military ruins lies a cemetery where an obelisk has been erected to honour the soldiers of the 54^th Regiment.

This village is the centre of folk pottery. Clay is collected from nearby pits and the wares are fired in the yards of the potters' homes. The firing is done in open fires under layers of green grass.

Folk pottery is sold at outlets in the village as well as in stores in other areas of the island. A cold environment is not very suitable for Antiguan folk pottery, since the wares tend to break rather easily in cold conditions. Admirers of the art from colder climes would do well to remember that! 

The centre of the Antiguan arts community, Harmony Hall is in Brown's Bay, a part of Nonsuch Bay. The Antigua Artist's Exhibition and the Craft Fair are both held here every November. Even otherwise, different exhibits are displayed throughout the year.

Harmony Hall is built around a sugar mill tower, which has now been converted into a bar. The tower is one of the best places to admire the stunning panoramic views of Nonsuch Bay and its surroundings.

A visit to this charming museum is a must to learn about the history of Antigua and Barbuda. It begins with the story of the geological birth of the islands. The museum is located in the middle of St. John's and its fascinating exhibits range from a bat that belonged to Sir Viv Richards, one of the world's greatest cricket players, to a life size replica of an Arawak home. Visit the museum website at http://www.antiguamuseums.org/.

The cathedral is situated between the Newgate Street and Long Street and was established in 1683. It was replaced by a stone building in 1745. Unfortunately, an earthquake destroyed it in 1843. The structure built in 1847 is what is seen today. Figures of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Divine stand at the entrance of the cathedral.

The Admiral's House at Nelson's Dockyard and Clarence House at Shirley Heights are interesting museums.

The capital St. John's is the economic hub of the nation. It is the main city of Antigua while Codrington is the biggest city in Barbuda. St. John's boasts of two popular shopping areas filled with everything that tourists love - from duty-free luxury items to beads to bright handbags, the shops have them all.

This is the office and official residence of the Governor General of Antigua. It is located on Independence Avenue. The building was built in the 17^th century and styled along colonial lines with Georgian architecture. However, the residence and its extensive gardens are not usually open for public viewing.

Fort James is an old fort built at the entrance of St. John's Harbour.
The Public Market is at the end of Market Street and is very active on Saturday mornings.
The Rum Distillery in Deep Water Harbour distils the well-known Cavalier Rum.
The Parliament Building is on Queen Elizabeth Highway.

Monk's Hill gives a magnificent view of Cobb's Cross, English Harbour, Falmouth, Mamora and Shirley Heights. It is in the parish of St. Paul's.

The area is replete with history - battles, conquests, love and betrayal - everything that happened during the time of the Caribs right up to their downfall, and the rise of the British Naval Command in the area.

There is a popular legend that describes the love between the beautiful Carib girl Zulmeira and the young Englishman Ralph de Merefield. The legend is not just a simple love story but also a tale of hatred between the Governor and Ralph, the betrayals by the Carib Chief and Zulmeira, all of which culminated in a bloody war that crushed the Caribs. 

Archaeologists have discovered that Mamora was the site of old Arawak settlements. Bats Cave is next to Mamora. It was in this natural cavern that the Carib forces gathered to plan their raids against the British, who were attempting to gain control over the area. One can almost visualise the brave Carib Indians fighting off the British here.

About 800 ft below Monk's Hill is the town of Falmouth. In the 17^th century, this town of British settlers was completely burnt down by the Caribs. Governor Edward Warner's wife and children were kidnapped by the Caribs and taken to Dominica. They had to stay there for two years before the Governor could rescue them during a return raid. However, after their return to Antigua, the Governor sent away his wife to Ding-a-Ding Nook, a lonely place behind the Shirkeley Mountains. It is believed by some that the decision to leave was her own while others believe that the Governor could not stand the thought of a possible relationship between her and another man when she was away.

The English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard lie between Mamora and Falmouth. It was here that the British Admiral Nelson commanded the Royal Navy in the 18^th century. Young Prince William Henry, heir to the British throne, served under Admiral Nelson. It is believed that he was quite a colourful person and contracted an illness during a jaunt with Nelson. His actions and the illness caused his royal father a lot of embarrassment. Prince William later occupied the British throne.

The military history of the British in Antigua may have been different had it not been for the safe harbour offered by the dockyard to the military. The English garrison of 900 men at Shirley Heights had a clear view of the surrounding coast and nearby islands. At 500 feet above the dockyard, Shirley Heights was the perfect place for a signal station. All approaching ships, whether of friends or enemies, were easily spotted and the nearby forts could be alerted well in time.

Today, this historic site with its classic structures has been restored for more peaceful purposes. Pleasure yachts with visitors from different nations have now taken the place of the ferocious ships sailing into the dockyard. People today visit Shirley Heights to enjoy the lovely view from the island and admire the Georgian architecture evident in the remaining military structures.

Visitors enjoy the adventurous climb to the top of Greencastle Hill, which is believed to have been a place of worship during pre-Columbian days. There are rocks and smooth stones that corroborate this belief.

The island nation includes several smaller islands, most of which are on the Atlantic side. There are some privately owned properties on the islands though the beaches are all open to the public. 

Great Bird Island, Guana Island, Long Island, Maiden, Redonda, Smith Island, and York Island are some of the main islands. There is a rather fascinating story about the ownership of Redonda. The story goes that the island is owned by certain literary "kings" of England who have been passing it on to their successors for generations!

The sanctuary is home to over 170 species of birds and over 5,000 frigate birds. The sanctuary is accessible only by boat and is situated in the north-western lagoon of the island.

The Fregata magnificens

This magnificent bird is aptly called the Man O' War Bird. With its large size and flying capabilities, it can be compared to a warship. It is the most aerial water bird and has a wingspan of four to five feet. This is the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird.

The frigate bird is known to trouble less skilled flyers such as cormorants, egrets, and pelicans till they are forced to drop their catch!

The male frigate's red throat pouch is very prominent. The pouch is inflatable both during courtship and as a defence mechanism when it feels threatened. Courting happens during the fall and the chicks hatch quite late in the year. 

Located at the junction of Church Street, Market Street and Long Street, the Court House was built in 1748-50. Earthquakes damaged it twice, once in 1843 and later in 1974. It was the original home of the Supreme Court and the Houses of Parliament.