The British called it their Mother Colony. The French disagreed and claimed it for themselves. They waged war over it, and then decided to share. The French took the middle part, the sections now known as Basseterre and Capisterre, and the English took the two ends, that is, the Palmetto Point-Sandy Point area on one side and the Cayon-Nicola Town area on the other side; and they agreed to share the south-eastern peninsula. But the truce did not last. They went to war again and fought until both sides were exhausted. Finally they decided to let the British keep the whole of it.

St Kitts' beautiful Sandy Point was the setting for a dramatic story which changed
the life of a foul mouthed slave trader named John Newton. Newton went on to pen
one of the most famous and well-loved songs of all time - "Amazing Grace".

At the Amazing Grace Experience's Visitor Center on St. Kitts, you will discover
the story of John Newton and the history behind the song "Amazing Grace".
You will also learn more about the tropical island paradise - St Kitts. You will
be inspired to continue Newton's fight by discovering more about slavery

When the two earliest English forts at Old Road and Sandy Point Town (Hamilton Fort) fell into poor condition, it was decided, “to build a big, strong fort” on Cleverly’s Hill, “a suitable site, as ships were often becalmed beneath it.” And so Charles Fort came to be, named after King Charles II who sent £500 to assist in its construction. The fort served its military duty from 1670 until it was abandoned in 1854. Some forty years later, in 1890, it was used as a Hansen Home (leper asylum), which was finally closed in 1996.

After reaching its peak in the late 1700s the production of sugar declined throughout the nineteenth century, nearly ceasing altogether on several occasions in the last hundred years. The growing of sugar beet in Europe, the emancipation of the slaves, and the increase in the number of countries growing sugarcane worldwide, all contributed to depress the industry on St. Kitts and to threaten the island’s entire economy. The Industry was saved from extinction in 1912 by the opening of the central sugar factory, capable of processing the whole of the island’s’ crop.

This former French property was less than 100 acres when Peter Brotherson acquired it early in the eighteenth century. In 1726 the size increased when Brotherson petitioned for additional lands adjoining his property. Sugar was extracted by means of an animal mill for most of the eighteenth century. By 1828 the plantation extended to 286 acres, had a windmill, and was owned by George Galway Mills. The size of the plantation increased to over 300 acres by the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when steam technology was introduced. By then Stuart Davis owned the property.

    The Berkeley Memorial sits in The Circus, the heart of Basseterre - the capital of St. Kitts.
    The Memorial features four clocks, each facing the four different streets of downtown Basseterre, as well as a drinking fountain.
    The clock was erected in the year 1883.
    The Berkeley Memorial was built in honour of Thomas Berkeley-Hardtman, a past legislator and estate owner.

Black Rocks sits just a few minutes away from Saddlers Village.  This rural site is a salient reminder of St. Kitts' volcanic history. One might stop to wonder why these rocks appear so charred, almost resembling mutant chunks of coal.   These bold rock formations are as a result of the pyroclastic eruptions of Mount Liamigua formerly known as Mount Misery, St.

    Brimstone Hill Fortress was carried and built brick by brick by the African slaves who labored on the island of St. Kitts.
    Construction on the fortress began in the year 1690 and continued over a 100 year period
    The Fortress stands approximately 800 feet high.
    Brimstone Hill itself emerged as a result of underwater volcanic activity approximately 6,000 years ago

    First working estate on the island of St. Kitts. Manufacturing Tobacco & Indigo(1625-1640) firstly, followed by Sugar and Rum(1640-1924).
    First land grant in English West Indies in the year 1625
    First Owner Sam Jefferson great/great/great grandfather of Thomas Jefferson third president of U.S.A
    Employed a variety of sugar crushing methods such as animal power, water wheel, and steam engine
    Many artifacts still remain from earlier crop production

By 1626 both the British and the French settlements were expanding at such a rate that the Carib community began to perceive a threat to its very existence on the island. Joining forces with Caribs from a number of other islands, Chief Tegremare prepared to attack the European settlements. Meanwhile, despite growing animosity between the French and the British, the two communities put aside their differences in order to mount a combined, pre-emptive attack on the Carib. As a result, over 2,000 Carib Indians were massacred at Bloody Point.