HERITAGE 52 lime January - March 2009 I n the introduction to each episode of the Star Trek series, there is the phrase " To boldly go where no man has gone before" and indeed, sometimes when you are trying to fi nd a particular place it seems that is what you are doing. At other times you want to go where other people have gone before and experience history. In Barbados there is a particular place where it is very easy to literally walk through history and on a quiet afternoon be transported back in time. This location is the Garrison Historic Area and it surrounds the Garrison Savannah. The Garrison Savannah is the centre of much of the sporting and recreational activity in Barbados. The island's horse racing track is located here; horse racing has been taking place since the middle of the 1800s. There are a rugby fi eld, basketball court and jogging track, all of which are extensively used on afternoons. The Savannah, however, is an historic location for much more than sport. On November 30th 1966, in the Garrison Savannah, the ceremony was held for the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the Barbados fl ag, thus signalling full independence for the country of Barbados. The historical signifi cance of the Garrison Savannah goes even further back. In 1650 Charles Fort was erected in the area and then, in 1705, St Ann's Fort was added. The arrival of British troops in 1780 led to the establishment of the Garrison. From 1796 the Garrison area became the headquarters of the British West India Regiment and the large grassy area in the centre, which is now the Garrison Savannah, was the regiment's parade grounds. The British West India Regiment was the fi rst British regiment of black soldiers, and provided 132 years of service both in the British West Indies and worldwide. Being the site of a military complex, numerous buildings were constructed from the 1660s to the 1800s. These give the Garrison area much of its historical and architectural interest. On any walk around the Garrison area you cannot miss the numerous cannons that are located in the area. These form part of the National Cannon Collection, which constitutes the largest cluster of 17th The British West India Regiment, formed in 1796, was the fi rst British regiment of black soldiers LL MAIN: Old English cannon in front of Garrison Savannah Clock Tower TOP RIGHT: Medical building for the old Garrison complex MIDDLE: Barbados Museum and Historical Society BOTTOM: Garrison Savannah Clock Tower What better way to remind ourselves of Barbados' history than by an intriguing afternoon stroll back in time? So suggests iSntep t biam Bcrian Ramksey e MAIN: JONATHAN FARMER; OTHERS: MIKE TOY

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