Bridgetown is Barbados’s capital and largest city in the West Indies, southeastern Caribbean Sea. It was founded in 1628 by English settlers and was originally called the Indian River Bridge. There was a crude bridge spanning the Careenage (Constitution River), which was thought to have been built by the island’s first inhabitants – the Arawaks. The bridge was subsequently destroyed and rebuilt in 1654. In 1654, an estimated 20,000 people died from cholera in the area on a swamp infested by mosquitoes, and not a good location for a capital city. Due to its advantageous geographic location, it became a major world port in the 17th Century. As Bridgetown grew and became more prosperous from the sugar and enslaved person trade, it became known as the center of British Atlantic trade.
Several fires in the city date back to 1659 when more than 200 hundred houses were destroyed, until the last major fire in 1910. Bridgetown suffered more than 14 major fires, destroying much of the city during this period. But many of its historic structures have survived. During the 19th Century, this city also hosted many world leaders, including Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, and George Washington. George Washington visited only this city outside of continental North America.
The Chamberlain Bridge, a manually operated swing bridge, replaced the old bridge in 1872. The bridge is named after Joseph Chamberlain, who was Barbados’ Secretary of State for Colonies and made considerable contributions to Barbados’ economy. As a result, the bridge was repaired and upgraded. The old manual bridge was replaced in 2006 by a modern lift bridge.
UNESCO has recognized Bridgetown as a World Heritage Site. You can see historical sites such as British colonial architecture, Parliament Buildings, Chamberlain Bridge, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Jewish synagogue, and many others while strolling through the city.
Here are some stunning historical photos that show Bridgetown from the 1870s to the 1950s.
