Young People in Barbados Come Together to Safeguard the Island’s Built Heritage

Students and tutors from the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology participating in the ‘Train the Trainers’ Programme’. [Commonwealth Heritage Forum]

Young people in Barbados have been conducting restorative works to the country’s unique built heritage in recent months through hands-on training programmes, workshops and research projects at several locations on the island, all under the Hamish Ogston Foundation-funded Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme.

In the spirit of the Barbadian Prime Minister’s recent pledge to capitalise on Barbados’ rich history and culture, many exciting new heritage conservation training programmes have been underway across the island, each managed by the Commonwealth Heritage Forum and funded by the Hamish Ogston Foundation’s May 2022 pledge of £4.5million in funding.

In January 2023, 40 young people from the Caribbean, UK, and US worked on a comprehensive management plan for the historic architecture of Roebuck Street, Bridgetown, Barbados, for the Roebuck Street Redevelopment Trust. This project gave the young people involved the opportunity to learn more about the historic location of Roebuck Street and the buildings situated there, as well as about the practical conservation skills needed to protect these historic structures.

Training workshops included field work in masonry and plastering, pointing and mortar analysis, and a lime burn exercise for staff and students (pictured above).

[Commonwealth Heritage Forum]

In February, a series of ‘Train the Trainers’ workshops, delivered by historic buildings specialist Mark Womersley began. These workshops have been for participation by recent graduates and trainees of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPIT) and have helped participants to gain specialist conservation skills and to find jobs in building conservation. The series is ongoing and has so far included field work in masonry and plastering, pointing and mortar analysis, as well as a lime burn exercise for staff and students.

The series is employing a dual approach, where lectures are complemented by hands-on practical work, highlighting the importance of using lime and traditional building practices in the conservation and repair of historic buildings. Training sessions are taking place at The Barbados Museum and Historical Society and Barbados National Trust along with practical training days for 15–17 year olds at the Grantley Adams Memorial School.

Historic buildings specialist Mark Womersley pictured with trainees learning new skills to record the structure of a former early-nineteenth century slave hospital in St Joseph’s, Barbados. [Commonwealth Heritage Forum]

These initiatives are providing unique opportunities for young people to learn more about the skills needed to conserve and care for historic buildings, whilst also introducing them to how interesting and important a career heritage conservation can be. The trainees are learning-while-they-do as they conduct restorative works on historic buildings whilst under the instruction of experts like Mark Womersley. The idea is to introduce and train the next generation of heritage professionals, whilst also contributing towards the preservation of the heritage that local people value.

Funded by a £4.5million grant from the Hamish Ogston Foundation, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme is focused on various Commonwealth nations including Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Barbados and India. The programme is aiming to address the heritage conservation skills shortages and skills gaps in these countries, training up to 600 people in the skills required to protect historic buildings across the Commonwealth in its initial five-year period.

To learn more about the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme please click here.