The Morgan Lewis Mill
Outlying South America's northern tip of Venezuela, and just southeast of Puerto Rico, Barbados cools in the temperate ocean breezes inviting tourists and romantics from around the world to its lush and languid shores.
A destination retreat, the island of Barbados attracts beach lovers, scuba divers, surfers and other assorted marine-loving life. Having attracted international travelers since the first English settled in 1627, Barbados has transformed from a robust producer of sugarcane and molasses, to a producer of rum and resort luxury.
Away from the more typical resort attractions, a lovely trip into the countryside by car yields its own rewards. Along the northeast corner of Saint Andrew, the Morgan Lewis Mill stands as a testament to the beauty of Barbados' industrious past. One of only two remaining working sugar mills in Barbados, the Morgan Lewis Mill invites travelers to experience history inside a fully-restored operational windmill museum.
An interesting fact about this old plantation structure is that it was constructed entirely without cement. The rubble walls are held together with a compound made of egg whites and coral dust. Inside, photographs tell of Barbados' history of sugar industry and trade. Standing sentinel on a mount overlooking a vista of the Atlantic coast, visitors to the Morgan Lewis Mill will share a breathtaking view enjoyed by countless people through history.
Accessible by rental car, the mill is maintained by the Barbados National Trust to a complete restoration. Open weekdays from 9 to 5, the price is $10.00 for adults and half price for children. Bear in mind that the stately sails operate on Sundays from February through July. In the off season, the sails may be removed for storage. However the museum provides ice cream and drinks to cheer its guests.
A self-guided visit and viewing of short films will enlighten visitors of the significance of the sugar industry and what made this Caribbean island so important to the world's heritage. Visitors can even climb to the top of the mill. Around the mill, one can find all manner of plantation artifacts to give you a sense of how such a large operation served - and was served by - its residents.
If you would like to make it a theme of your vacation, an additional mill, Betty's Hope, in Antigua has also been restored to operation. There are also numerous inoperational mills scattered around the island, to make for an interesting countryside drive.
