Running Head: Historical Sites
Barbados Community College
Division of General/Continuing Education
Course Title: Introduction to Caribbean Heritage
Course Code: GEED 101
Social Work Programme
Tutor: Mrs. Phillips
Margaret Walkes
ID#: 19570125-0028-2006
Historical Sites
According to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), heritage is defined as “our legacy from the past, what we live with today and we pass on to future generations.” Our cultural and natural heritage is both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” Historical sites are one of the areas which contribute to our heritage in defining our identity. They are official locations where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation in its adoption of the International Treaty Convention of Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage in 1972 states that it “seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.”
The Barbados National Trust is a charitable, non-profit body founded in 1961 dedicated to preserving Barbados’ considerable, architectural, historical and ecological wealth for future generations of visitors and Barbadians to enjoy. Three of these preserved historical sites which are highlighted in this paper are the Jewish Synagogue, St. Nicholas Abby and St. Anne’s Fort.
The Jewish Synagogue
The Jewish Synagogue which is located on Synagogue Lane, Bridgetown,
St. Michael was first built in 1654 by a number of Sephardic Jews who had immigrated to Barbados from Brazil seeking asylum from the Inquisition. This gave Barbados the distinction of being the first English territory to accept Jews who eventually numbered about two hundred and sixty. The first...