Map/Chart > The Caribbean

Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown, Barbados

This delightful survey of Carlisle Bay, Barbados, is full of detail and information to rival the best of charts.

Further Information

This charming little chart was drawn as the initial draft for a second, reduced size chart of Carlisle Bay. It is drawn on Watermark paper: J Whatman with crest, dated 1809. There is also a note written on the reverse side which states that the charts was received July 1815, communicated by Admiral Harvey'.

The survey shows the coastline of the South West corner of the island and it includes a great deal of information including; hydrography, anchorages, lead-lines, sand banks, rocks and reefs. A scale of 1 inch to 100 fathoms is also provided. The coastline detail is no less informative as it marks all of the buildings and settlements along that shore: Fort Grenville and Fort James to the north west of Bridgetown are marked along with Willoughby’s fort on the Harbour of Bridgetown. Fort Ormonde to the south east on the coast between Bridgetown and Fort Charles at Needhams Point along with the army barracks in land along with St Ann’s Castle.

That such a relatively small island as Barbados should have so many military fortifications and installations is of course due to the islands location and its potential wealth. In fact the island had over 20 fort installations along the west coast alone. There were fewer along the east coast simply because of the rough and barren shore which along with the prevailing winds would make a landing or invasion along that coast much more difficult. Other small notations on this survey add to its overall charm and interest: the swamp and the coal house by Fort Ormand; Watering places and pumps along the shore, Becknell's Mill, the depiction of the settlement of Bridgetown itself, along with its bridges and church; Finally, the depiction of palm trees along the shore add significantly to the ‘feel’ of this work. Two views are also included down the left hand side of the survey although they have been done quickly and without an apparent reference to the lead lines.