The Ins & Outs of Barbados 2022

134 Good Health Barbados - A Healt hy Paradise by Sir Henry Fraser Did you know that Barbados has been promoted as a health resort for nearly 300 years? The first telling evidence for that was the recommendation for the young George Washington, later the first president of the United States of America, to bring his older half-brother Lawrence to Barbados for a “health cure”. Lawrence had severe TB (tuberculosis) and his doctors recommended a milder climate. Happily, there were relatives in Barbados, and the Barbados – Virginia connection was strong, so the brothers took ship for “Paradise” in search of a cure for Lawrence. Barbadians in later centuries would have advised the Washingtons to find lodgings on the east coast, to imbibe the famous Atlantic breezes – the Trade winds – reputedly filled with health giving ozone! Barbadians, with their strong English connections, followed the example of the English, developing seaside villages, because of the perceived healthy environment by the sea. Hence Hastings, Worthing and Dover, after Britain’s seaside towns. And these were the locations of the early beach-side hotels when the first steam ships came, bringing long-stay visitors from Britain and North America, often specifically for their health. Hastings was the site of the late 19th century Family Hotel, later the Ocean View, right on the sea, They took up residence for six weeks and three days at Bush Hill House, which is now the famous George Washington House Museum, at the edge of the historic Garrison and overlooking Carlisle Bay. George came down with what I like to call the mild Barbadian version of small pox, and survived with merely some noticeable pock marks on his face. It was a God-send, because when his revolutionary army was devastated by small pox on the Delaware, he was unaffected – or the War of Independence might have ended differently! Lawrence, on the other hand, went on to Bermuda when George went home. He became worse there, returned to Virginia and soon died. Perhaps he should have stayed here! The Crane beach and the large and elegant Marine Hotel. They were followed by a proliferation of hotels on the sea, along the coast through Worthing to St. Lawrence Gap and Dover. But the dramatic Atlantic east coast – at the Crane, Bath and Bathsheba - had from the 19th century attracted Barbadians building seaside houses, and it was firmlybelieved that aweekor twoof vacation on the east coast restored poor health. When the railway opened in 1883 it made the east coast much more easily accessible, and seaside houses or “bay house” in local parlance appeared rapidly along the Bathsheba, Cattlewash and the St. Philip coast, from Foul Bay going north. The economic opportunities were obvious. Three hotels opened at almost the same time – the Crane