The History Forum

By, Akeem Breedy-Kellman, FOUN 1101 Caribbean Civilisation student Rubina Scantlebury, is my Barbadian aunt; the “fourth” daughter of my grandmother. Auntie Rubina was born in 1952. At the tender age of six years, her parents departed Barbados, to seek job opportunities in England. For another five years, she attended to her younger siblings in Barbados, with other close relatives. At the age of 11 years, her parents, Elma Bayley and Lambert Bayley sent a letter, telling her to come to England with her siblings. At such an age, my aunt was ecstatic about going to England, yet, her only expectation was to meet her parents. All she could do is place the nursery stories such as “Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son” and the many pictures against the imaginary setting of England. The teachers at the St. Stephen’s School where she attended taught her the traditions of England, but had never been there. Auntie Rubina and her younger sisters were assisted by a flight attendant, from one airport i...

Codd’s House Site By, Dr. Tara Inniss, Department of History and Philosophy, Cave Hill Campus, UWI The parking area immediately behind the Nidhe Israel synagogue and opposite Police Headquarters is the location of a once prominent building in Bridgetown and the now vacant space tells the story of heritage lost in the city. Known as the site of Codd’s House, owned by William Codd, was leased to the Legislature and the Courts as the site for the New Town Hall. Parliament met there between 1837 and 1848. The termination of the Apprenticeship System in May, 1838 was signed in this location, finally freeing the apprenticed population, which was formerly enslaved – granting full emancipation. In 1840, Bridgetown became the 12 th constituency by statute, which was brought into effect at Codd’s House, paving the way for the election of the first non-white Barbadian to the House of Assembly for the City of Bridgetown, Rt. Hon. Samuel Jackman Prescod. Codd’s House was eventually pres...

By, Dr. Tara Inniss, Department of History and Philosophy, Cave Hill Campus, UWI Joseph Rachell (1716-66) has been regarded as the first black businessman in Barbados -- although it can be argued that many enslaved and free black men and women had to be enterprising in slave society in order to secure their own survival -- but Joseph Rachell certainly stands out as an enigma of his time. He was baptized at St. Michael’s at the age of 10 years and was described as a “free nego boy.” He began trading around 1740. He owned a small fleet of fishing boats and several properties in Bridgetown. He was a member of St. Michael’s Church, but was buried in the Old Churchyard which is now St. Mary’s. Joseph Rachell was also a generous supporter of the black community in 18 th century Bridgetown. He purchased a plot of land in Fontabelle (now the location of the Barbados Investment Development Corporation Small Business Centre) where the urban enslaved and free coloured populations co...