Preservation a priority in aftermath of S’town fire

Less than 24 hours after an historic Speightstown building housing three businesses was razed, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has promised government’s assistance for the restoration.

Despite the extensive damage to the 18-century structure, Barbados National Trust president Peter Stevens is optimistic that it can be saved and has urged owners not to destroy it.

On Friday morning, pedestrians in the quaint northern town received a firsthand look at the damage caused to Juma’s Restaurant, One Eleven East Beach Bar and Archer’s Hall Design Centre the evening before. That section of Queen’s Street was not yet open to vehicular traffic and those on foot were not allowed to walk near the site where broken glass, burnt stock and other pieces of rubble were visible.

“Cheese on bread boy, Archer’s Hall gone too,” one person observed.

Efforts by Barbados TODAY to speak to the affected business owners were unsuccessful.

Prime Minister Mottley paid an unscheduled visit to the area and promised to work with the owner Bjorn Bjerkhamn to restore the approximately 300-year-old structure.

“We feel strongly that Speightstown is a heritage centre. It has credibility historically, it has the architecture, and the government will work with the landowners to see how we can restore and ensure that in rebuilding, we preserve the integrity of this building,” she promised.

When contacted, the Barbados National Trust President confirmed the approximate age of the building and indicated that once the outer limestone walls of the building are still intact, owners should be wary of demolishing it.

“The general view is that if a building burns you knock it down, but that is not necessary. If it were a concrete building there might be enough structural damage to demolish, but these old limestone buildings can survive this stuff,” Stevens told Barbados TODAY.

“As long as there is enough structure there, you can restore the buildings and there is an opportunity to recreate the internals for whatever they want to do. I don’t know the specific history, but those buildings were built around the late 1700s or early 1800s. It is important that we don’t lose that very identifiable aspect of Speightstown,” he added.

The Barbados National Trust President noted that some of the same materials used in the late 1700s would have to be sourced and older construction techniques employed to ensure that no further damage is caused. He however pledged the trust’s expertise on the matter.

kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb