A House that Could Walk
Discover Barbados' Chattel House History. The belongings house is among the most recognisable symbols of Barbados-- a little wooden home with bright Caribbean colours, high gable roofs, and verandahs that invite the breeze. However beyond their appeal, belongings homes bring a powerful and distinctively Barbadian story. These homes emerged after emancipation, when previously enslaved people were totally free however still had little access to land. Plantation owners controlled most of the island, so workers often resided on land they did not own. Their homes required to be theirs-- however likewise needed to move with them if the landowner changed, the work moved, or the household sought a brand-new start. The solution was ingenious: construct a home that could walk. Set on coral stone obstructs instead of a repaired structure, the effects house could be lifted, moved, and rolled to a brand-new place. Neighbours would collect to assist, turning every move into a minute of neighborh...