Article written by Diane Slawych.
The Caribbean has long been a magnet for people from around the world seeking sun, sand and a laid back tropical vibe. Some of the visitors are famous. Most of them come and go, but a few have stayed for extended lengths of time, and some have even left their mark. Here are a few brush-with-fame attractions worth checking out:
Walk in the footsteps of musical greats at Olveston House – Montserrat
Olveston House, a historic island landmark once home to Sir George Martin, where music history and Montserrat heritage meet. Photo courtesy of the Montserrat Tourism Authority.
Many celebrated musicians have visited Montserrat over the years, but perhaps never more so than in the 1980s. And one man in particular drew them to this volcanic island, located southwest of Antigua.
George Martin – producer of most of the Beatles’ songs – had a house and a recording studio on the island that attracted a who’s who of the rock and pop world for more than a decade.
The parade of noteworthy musicians that streamed through AIR Studios Montserrat, included The Police, Dire Straits, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran and the Rolling Stones. More than 70 albums were recorded here in a span of ten years. When not recording, the musicians often hung out at Martin’s home, with its pool and five acres of tropical gardens. As for the recording studio, it was eventually abandoned, then suffered damage from Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and later became off limits after a devastating volcanic eruption in 1995.
Martin, however, continued coming to his Caribbean home regularly, and even donated money to relief efforts. Though he passed away in 2016 at the age of 90, the musical memories of his time on the island lives on.
His home, an historic colonial-style estate on the west side of the island, is known as Olveston House, and now operates as a guest house. Inside are artifacts and memorabilia connected to the legendary AIR (Associated Independent Recording) Studios – gold records on the walls, photographs taken by Linda McCartney of her husband, (and Beatle member) Paul McCartney and other musicians who spent time here.
You can even stay in Martin’s bedroom, although you don’t have to spend the night to visit. Dine in the restaurant, which serves English and Caribbean cuisine, stroll the grounds, once the site of a large lime plantation, and glimpse the view of the Soufrière Hills volcano.
And if you want to see more memorabilia from AIR Studios, check out the Hilltop Coffee House & Welcome Centre.
Noel Coward’s Jamaican Retreat
Noel Coward enjoyed the views from his hilltop oasis, Firefly. Photo courtesy of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.
While on holiday in Jamaica in 1948, British playwright, composer and actor Noel Coward fell in love with the island and bought a home here, which he called Blue Harbour. Located near Ocho Rios, it became a mecca for his celebrity friends – including movie stars, literary greats and politicians.
But the prolific author – he wrote over 50 plays, including Private Lives, Blithe Spirit, and Present Laughter, and composed numerous musical theatre works – was in need a retreat where he could work in peace. He settled on a hill-top property nearby with stunning views of the north coast.
He built a modest home here and called it ‘Firefly’, after the luminous winged beetles that appeared in the early evening hours. After Coward died in 1973, the home was donated to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, restored and opened to visitors.
Today Firefly looks much as it did when Coward lived here. There are big armchairs in the living room, two grand pianos, and a library that contains a collection of his books. His Hawaiian-print shirts still hang in the bedroom closet.
Framed photos on display of some of the many celebrity visitors include Katharine Hepburn, Errol Flynn, Evelyn Waugh, Winston Churchill, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, and Claudette Colbert. Even Britain’s Queen Mum notably stopped in for lunch on her 1965 trip to Jamaica.
An open patio looks out over the pool, and on the grounds outside is a statue of the playwright seated in a chair facing the sea. In the garden, a simple white marble gravestone marks his burial place.
Firefly is a National Heritage Site and open for tours daily.
George Washington Slept Here – Barbados
George Washington House, Barbados — Step inside this historic Bridgetown landmark, where the future first President of the United States once stayed in 1751. Photo courtesy of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Long before he became the first U.S. President, George Washington, took a trip, which turned out to be the first and only journey he ever made outside his country.
He and his older brother Lawrence, boarded a vessel for a non-stop, six-week journey to Barbados. Lawrence was suffering from tuberculosis and thought the warm weather of the West Indies would improve his health and George agreed to accompany his brother.
They arrived in Bridgetown and rented a place called Crofton House where they lived in the autumn of 1751. Sadly Lawrence’s health did not improve (he passed away in Virginia the following year) and the house later became an Officer’s Residence for the British Garrison.
Today the 18th century two-storey mansion is open to visitors and is now known as the George Washington House. Built around 1717, the beautifully restored home is the oldest residence in the Garrison Historic Area.
It contains many furnishings acquired from estate houses across the island. Specially designed period costumes also help bring 1750s Barbados to life, offering a glimpse of how it appeared when the Washington brothers were here.
Surrounding the home are beautiful flamboyant trees, brightly coloured bougainvillea flowers, and tropical shrubs and fragrant herbs.
Meanwhile, below ground is a network of tunnels! Constructed in around 1820, they extend for about 10,000 feet, a portion of which is beneath the house and the rest under the Garrison, which is considered the most intact and authentic 18th and 19th century British Military Garrison in the world.
The tunnels were largely forgotten until their recent re-discovery. In 2014, 70 metres of this underground network were opened to the general public.
An unforgettable attraction, the Historic Garrison Area, which includes the George Washington House, gardens, and the tunnels, were inscribed in 2011 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Article by Diane Slawych.
Diane Slawych is a radio and print journalist published in 60+ magazines and newspapers, who enjoys festivals, music and uncovering unique stories. She has travelled widely in 100 countries including most islands in the Caribbean, where you can often find her on a beach with a bottle of Tiger Malt!
