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- ARCHITECTURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS - EXHIBITION 2000
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- Residents of Tortola got the unique opportunity to witness the architecture
of the Virgin Islands from the year 300 to 1999 during the staging of the
first in a series of exhibitions planned by the Millennium Committee.
- The exhibition was mounted at the East End/Long Look Community Centre
and appropriately depicted ways in which Virgin Islanders built their shelters
over the centuries. According to Committee member Mrs. Medita Wheatley,
beyond the actuality of what is seen in the buildings themselves, there
is a symbolic representation of how their social, political and economic
structures were built as well.
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- Early in 1982, under the direction of the Community Development Department,
the project began to record Virgin Islands architecture. This project was
aimed at giving credit to the generations of carpenters and masons whose
skill produced this architectural heritage; determining the social and
economic factors that have influenced building design and choice of material;
recording by photographs and drawings examples of Virgin Islands
- architecture and preparing an inventory of buildings of historical,
architectural and social importance and creating
- public awareness of the territory's architectural heritage to offer
critical appraisal to the present state of this heritage and to suggest
action for the future.
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- A preliminary survey of each village and Main Street was made to select
buildings for recording. Buildings were selected on the basis of their
architectural components, i.e. material and structure, proportion, design,
detail, siting, character, function, significance and age.
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- According to the methodology, selected buildings were then photographed
and catalogued and selected buildings for drawing detail were drawn. Research
information was gathered mainly through observation, through the Archives
and Land Registry. Some oral testimony was also obtained.
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- Tuesday's exhibition featured ruins of sugar works at Brewer's Bay,
ruins of plantation houses, ruins of Government House at Fat Hog's Bay,
the Arawak site of worship at Belmont, Road Town in 1982, the architecture
of wooden buildings, churches, foundations and wells, details of stone
work from the plantation period, interiors, beams, shuttering, eaves, storage
sheds for fishermen, galleries or porches, wash troughs, thatch huts, wattle
and daub, latrines, shingles and roofs.
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- During the opening ceremony, Territorial Representation the Hon. Reeial
George noted that he was pleased to see some of the buildings that he had
worked on. He said this was an important exhibition that provided a tremendous
glimpse into the past and it was disappointing that more students did not
come out to the
- opening. Cedar School was the only one represented.
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- "Certainly, I hope that a number of what remains of the past in
terms of architecture, will be preserved through some special organization...I
was more than happy to hear that the old Government House will no longer
be torn down, but will remain as a part of our history so that our children
and grandchildren will have a chance to see where Her Majesty's Representatives
have lived from time to time," he said.
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- Hon. George identified the old sugar mill in Virgin Gorda as one of
the areas he thinks government should insist that is not developed. "No
doubt we need to learn from the past and architects and engineers would
no doubt be looking back on how effective the architecture of these islands
were and probably start re-designing buildings to depict the architecture
of the past, because it has proven that they are stable and durable."
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- Minister of Communications and Works the Honourable J. Alvin Christopher
said the concept of this exhibition is good, as it is important to stop
every now and then to review the past. "This helps us to evaluate
our accomplishments and to determine the changes that need to be made as
we forge ahead. It also helps
- to enlighten our young people about the types of homes and structures
that were built in the past as dwelling houses and other structures."
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- He noted, in his remarks, that Virgin Islands architecture is a mixture
of a number of influences that have resulted from changes in colonial ownership,
noticeable, the Spanish and Rome influence, with arches, fancy columns,
the small verandahs and trellises. "We also benefit from the skills
of architects who are originally from other countries but have made these
islands home and have continued to practice their profession of architecture."
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- The Minister referred to the Building Regulations which came into force
last year and stated that the objective of this new legislation is to improve
the quality of construction in this territory. It also addresses the importance
of building in such a way to protect our properties from hurricanes and
earthquakes.
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- Coordinator of the Millennium Committee Ermin Penn expressed gratitude
to the people of the Virgin Islands for allowing their houses to be photographed.
She also noted that "we have a great skill here and as a Virgin Islander,
I'm really proud of what we have."
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- Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal was also disappointed
that more school children, especially from the East End area and even architects
and building contractors, did not attend the opening of the exhibition.
He noted that the exhibition will be taken to Anegada, Virgin Gorda and
Jost Van Dyke and he urged as many residents as possible to examine the
exhibits.
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- "If you look at these pictures and you watch them carefully, they
reveal part of the struggle for existence we the people in these islands
had," Hon. O'Neal stated. He said he hopes the exhibitions would continue
in poetry and other aspects of Virgin Islands history. He commended Miss
Penn and the other members of the Millennium Committee for their efforts
in this regard and encouraged them "not to give up". During the
opening ceremony
- Tuesday, entertainment featured Neville Pole's Millennium Composition
and a rendition of "Bless This House" by Musa Muhammad on the
steel pan.
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