Bridgetown by Day - Barbados — Willie's WEB Place

Bridgetown is the capital city (and the only city) on the island of Barbados. The island is 166 square miles and is located approximately 100 miles due east of the Windward Islands; it stands alone in the Atlantic in that geographic region. For its small size, it has a large, respectable presence on the world stage, prompting former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to say in 2002 that Barbados “punches above its weight.” Barbados gained its independence from Britain on November 30, 1966 and became a Republic 55 years later on November 30, 2021.

Bridgetown was founded by the British in the 1620s. According to several reliable sources—including Richard Ligon, who lived on the island from 1647 to 1650 and later published A True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados (1657)—early settlers found a bridge over the river which they named "Indian Bridge." The bridge is believed to have been built by the Indigenous groups (Arawak and Caribs) who predated the British arrival. These groups lived on the island for over a thousand years, but had vanished 80 to 90 years before the British arrived. It is not clear precisely when the settlement officially took the name Bridgetown.

The city is the center of commerce for the island and has been the permanent home of the House of Assembly since the 1870s. It is also home to the island's only Anglican cathedral: Cathedral Church of Saint Michael and All Angels. With modernization, many businesses have moved from the city core to outer areas, to gain room for more spacious buildings, modern shopping centers, and supermarkets.

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011.

I was born and raised in Barbados and was very familiar with the "old" Bridgetown. I immigrated more than half my lifetime ago, but since 2003 I have been able to make short visits every two to five years, mainly for family events. Whenever time permits, I head into Bridgetown with camera in hand. I have curated a selection of these photos to share here.