Historic 300-pound plantation bell unveiled

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historic 18th-century plantation bell—weighing an estimated 300 pounds and believed to be the only one of its kind in the world—has been unveiled.

Commissioned in England between 1743 and 1760 by Benjamin Mellows, a former parliamentary representative for the parish of St Joseph, the bespoke bronze bell was crafted specifically for the estate then known as Bully Tree Hall, which was later renamed Blackman Plantation.

The artefact, which proudly bears Mellows’ name cast into its front, was shipped directly to the island during the peak of its sugar production.

Speaking at the unveiling during Emancipation Day celebrations on Saturday, local historian and researcher Shane Wiseman gave insight into the piece’s history.

“He [Mellows] commissioned it, paid for it, and it was shipped directly to Barbados,” Wiseman explained. “He has his name on the bell… it is the only one of its kind in the world.”

The bell is believed to have governed every facet of daily life for enslaved Africans working the fields. It served as a timekeeper, marking the start and finish of the workday. Beyond this, it sounded alarms during dangerous cane field fires, signalled escape attempts, and summoned the enslaved community to witness public punishments.

“A bell means notice,” remarked Carl Padmore as he read from a text. “When you hear this bell, you are still alive. God preserved this bell for our ancestors, and we hope that we can do the work that they did not do.”

Researchers are still liaising with archives in the United Kingdom to pinpoint the precise year of manufacture.