St. Philip is located on the south east coast of Barbados and less developed commercially than it’s neighbouring parish of Christ Church. However, there is plenty to see and do in St. Philip and the area has recently undergone a big development in residential properties.
The parish of St. Philip has the Atlantic Ocean as its coastline and therefore enjoys the cooling breeze from the trade winds. It is a very pretty parish and you can feel the pace of life here is somewhat slower.
There are a few historical plantation houses in this parish and they are Sunbury Plantation House, which is renowned for its collection of horse drawn carriages, it is open to the public and has a good restaurant there too.
For more information on Sunbury Plantation please click on the link at the bottom of this page.
There is also Sam Lord’s Castle, which up until recently operated as a hotel, however it is closed down at the moment and the grounds are closed to the public.
Sam Lord was a well-known figure in his day and is rumoured to have lit up the bay outside his castle to lure ships in to thinking that it was Bridgetown Harbour, however there is a reef and the ships would hit this and sink and then Sam Lord would loot the ships for their treasure.
This treasure has never been found and is rumoured to have been buried within the grounds.
For more information on Sam Lords Castle please click on the link at the bottom of this page.
St. Philip is also home to Oughterson House, which is where it is believed Bussa, an African slave worked. After the abolition of slavery in 1807 by the British government, slaves in Barbados were not freed, and in 1816 there was a great slave revolt led by Bussa.
The house is not open to the public but for more information on slavery in Barbados please read the section below on Barbados National Heroes and then see the article on Bussa.
St. Philip has some magnificent beaches, starting with Foul Bay about 10 minutes drive from Grantley Adams International Airport, the water here is quite rough and swimming is not always advisable, but the beach here is usually quiet and quite breath taking. It is a great spot for a picnic with facilities such as showers and toilets.
Further along the same road you will then come to The Crane Resort, which was the first hotel in Barbados. It has been refurbished to a high standard and afternoon tea in the cliff top restaurant is a very pleasant way to pass the time of day. From here you have a stunning view of the world famous Crane Beach below. This beach has been voted as one of the top 10 beaches in the world.
Again if you carry on along the same road and you will then see signs for Sam Lord’s Castle, the bay here has white sand and has plenty of shade. Now that the hotel is closed this beach is often deserted but makes an excellent spot for a picnic.
Heading back out to the main road the next beach you will come to is Harrismith, here you will find the remains of a once grand hotel, with steps leading down to a picturesque bay.
Just along from Harrismith is Bottom Bay, probably the most beautiful beach along this coast and well worth a visit.
Along the same road you will come to Ragged Point, where you will find the east coast lighthouse.
There are 4 old Anglican churches in this parish to visit and they are St. Martins Church, St. Philips Parish Church, St. Catherine’s and Holy Trinity Church, all of which have beautiful architecture and are lovely to walk around.
There are not many amenities in St. Philip but there is a shopping complex at Six Cross Roads, where you will find a large well-equipped supermarket, a post office and some clothes stores selling both ladies and children’s clothing.
Heading south from Six Roads, you will find the Four Square Rum Distillery & Heritage Park. Here you can tour the rum factory and have a stroll around Heritage Park, which used to have an amusement park for children that is still in place but no longer used.
The park is wonderful place to walk around, as there is plenty of shade and cooling winds. There are gift shops and a cafeteria selling refreshments.
Another place to look around and get some great souvenirs of your stay in Barbados is Daphne’s Sea Shell Studio, which is just up the road from Sunbury Plantation House.
In this parish you will also find Bushy Park, a racetrack where regular racing car rallies are held. There are big meetings at this track and international competitions.
For further information please please click on the link at the bottom of this page on car racing and motor sports.
Finally, another place for a great day out in St. Philip is Kendal Sporting Club, where you can enjoy clay pigeon shooting, handgun shooting, archery and paint balling. There is a swimming pool and a good bar and restaurant. Other facilities include pool tables, table tennis and darts.
Places of interest in St. Philip:
— Crane Resort
— Zen Sushi and Thai Restaurant
— L’Azure Restaurant
— D’Onofrio’s Trattoria
— Four Square Rum Distillery and Heritage Park
— Daphne’s Sea Shell Studio
— Ragged Point
— St. Martin’s Church
— St. Phillip’s Church
— St. Catherine’s Church
— Holy Trinity Church
— Six Road Shopping Complex
— Bushy Park Racetrack
— Kendal Sporting Club
— Sunbury Plantation House
— Sam Lord’s Castle
— Oughterson House
Bars and Restaurants in St. Philip:
— Zen Sushi and Thai Restaurant
— L’Azure Restaurant
— D’Onofrio’s Trattoria
— Kendal Sporting Club
— Sunbury Plantation House
— Four Square Rum Distillery
Accommodation in St. Philip:
Beaches in St. Philip:
— Bottom Bay
— Foul Bay
— Crane Beach
— Sam Lord’s Beach
— Harrismith
Author: Brett Callaghan
