St Nicholas Abbey

St. Nicholas Abbey

St. Nicholas Abbey is located in the parish of St. Peter on the west coast of Barbados.

The house was built in 1650 by Benjamin Berringer, and is one of only three remaining Jacobean properties in the western hemisphere – another one that Barbados is also home to is Drax Hall in St. George.

The house sits amongst 225 acres of sugar cane fields and is in very good condition for its age and is full of antiques. Whilst it is privately owned residence it is open to the public on occasions.

The house also has an interesting past; Benjamin Berringer was good friends and business partners with John Yeamans, who built the Round House in Bathsheba.

It is rumoured that Yeamans had an affair with Benjamin’s wife Margaret. When Benjamin found out he challenged Yeamins to a duel in which Berringer died.

Yeamans then married Margaret and inherited St. Nicholas Abbey, however the court later ruled the house must be handed over to Berringers children.

So John and Margaret moved to the USA and were amongst the first settlers in South Carolina with John became Governor. He died only two years later and Margaret married again.

Information correct at the time of posting 5 April 2006.