11/02/2025
The Plan of Speightstown found in the 1898 Barbados Diamond Jubilee Directory provides a step back in time, while at the same time demonstrating the change and continuity present in the evolution of this historic town.
In the plan, parish boundaries run from just north of modern-day Cobbler’s Cove Hotel in the south to Sandy/Sand Street in the north and the Rectory and Litchfield to the south- and northeast. Today, the eastern and southern boundaries of Speightstown have contracted inward. However, continuity can be seen in place names such as Queens Street, Goding and Chapel Alleys, Farm Road and Church Street.
Place names like Frolic Road, Babb’s Alley and Dragons Alley, have however disappeared from the landscape, representing some of the changes that Speightstown has undergone since its establishment in 1629.
The Plan is also a testament to the rich maritime history of this town as it highlights four jetties – Archers, Skinners, Challenor and Norville, which were important for the shipment of goods and passengers and for the whaling industry, which was a feature of Speightstown from the 1860s until the 1920s. The plan also identifies other family names associated with Speightstown, including Stout, Emptage, Webster and Jordan.
This Plan of Speightstown is a treasure trove for researchers delving into the heritage of this northern town, once known as “Little Bristol”.
