History at the Core

Details

Newton and Seawell plantations are two of the best documented plantations in Barbados. In addition to the archaeological evidence yielded at the Enslaved Burial Ground at Newton, the archival documents held at University of London, the Barbados Museum and Historical Society and The UWI have provided a comprehensive view of plantation life in Barbados. These sources have become the foundation for the scholarship on Barbadian slave society. This lecture will trace the development of Newton plantation from the 17th century. We will discuss the enslaved who lived and worked on the estate and plantation management, including the resident and absentee owners of the property. We will explore themes of resistance, family, work regimes, and plantation life/ culture using available historical records.