Carrington’s Village

Carrington’s Village, originally uploaded by pictureinfocus.

BDOS072807_0106A
Carrington’s Village
Tweedside Road, Carrington's Village
St. Michael, Barbados
Series: Walking, Driving, Taking Pictures
(07-28-2007)

Carrington’s Village is without a doubt a part of me. My mother and her family grew up in that plantation like village of small and intricate chattel houses and shops. I spent my first three to four years living in 2nd Avenue Tweedside Road. And even though I moved to the Garden Land later on, I still visited Carrington’s Village often.

Carrington’s Village was made popular by a native son of Barbados, George Lamming. This novelist and essayist captured the hearts and souls of many in 1953. His most celebrated book, In the Castle of My Skin, gave life to a Carrington’s Village of the post plantation era. It related the life of a young man and this family living in an ever changing village. Carrington’s Village which is not far from the capital Bridgetown was part of a huge sugar agricultural estate under the rule of the British and their plantation system.

There is a lot to remember about Carrington’s Village: I can still see the old street vendor Ms. Clarke selling her liver cutters; I have memories of my father having me in the bar of his old bicycle and riding me up Tweedside Road to my Grandmother’s place; and who can forget the COWS (Seals family) with their very popular shop which is now a thing of the past.

Carrington’s Village will always be a neighborhood full of character and memories. Small houses are still prominent, but some huge wall (brick) houses are creeping in, trying to change face of the village. Will this be for the good, only time will tell?

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