Did you know a smaller bell in St John’s Cathedral was purchased from the Golden Grove estate? It was regularly kept for the sole use of persons of color. Welcome to Golden Grove in St. John’s Antigua and Barbuda. It is a place with a rich history. Today, we will explore the story of this unique neighborhood.
Golden Grove has origins as a plantation. It was once known as Paul’s. In 1669, William Milder bequeathed half of his Antigua estate called Paul’s to his son Jacob Hill. He also left 12 or 13 slaves with it. The other half went to his friend John Travers. This included his share of the sloop Martha and half of the ship Charles of Nevis.
The Golden Grove Plantation changed hands over the years. In 1698, William McKinnon stated that William Bridges held it in trust for Thomas Trant. Trant was a deceased Roman Catholic. Captain John Gamble seized certain plantations in 1716. One was called Golden Grove. The other was the Road Plantation.
William McKinnon neglected his plantations for many years. He returned to Antigua in 1773 and joined the Council. He owned both McKinnon’s and Golden Grove estates. Charles Curtis managed this plantation for Samuel Martin from 1801 to 1812. He also managed Barnacle Point and Jolly Hill.
Initially, people of color could not be buried in the churchyard at St. John’s Cathedral. A smaller bell was purchased from the Golden Grove estate. This bell was reserved for people of color alone.
In 1833, the British Parliament abolished slavery. Golden Grove received a legacy award of £2363 5s 9p for freeing slaves. Ralph Peters was the only one to receive the honor. During World War II, Flying Horse Hill had a bar called Flying Horse. It was near the current Wendy’s location. Mr. White also owned a nightclub in Golden Grove where the Antigua State College is located today.
In 1941, the Antigua Sugar Factory, Ltd estimated that Golden Grove and Clare Hall would yield 2518 tons of sugar. This would come from 2567 tons of cane. The price was 19.26 cents per ton.
Today, Golden Grove is a neighborhood in St. John’s. According to the 2011 census, the population was 567. The Golden Grove Primary School is located here. Golden Grove has a unique story. It reflects Antigua’s complex history. From its beginnings as a plantation to its present day status as a vibrant neighborhood, Golden Grove remains a significant part of Antigua’s story.