Morgan Lewis Windmill, Historic sugar windmill in Saint Andrew, Barbados.
Morgan Lewis Windmill is a sugar mill located in the hills of Saint Andrew overlooking the eastern coastline of Barbados, with large sails that face outward to catch the wind. The structure now houses a museum displaying sugar production artifacts, historical plantation photographs, and traditional equipment from the milling era.
The windmill was built in 1727 and operated as a working sugar mill until 1947, when Egbert L. Bannister donated it to the Barbados National Trust for preservation. This gift ensured the building would be maintained as a museum open to the public.
The windmill demonstrates how sugar was processed in past times, and monthly grinding demonstrations from February to July show visitors the actual production of fresh cane juice. These working sessions give a hands-on sense of how people labored here centuries ago.
The site is situated in the hills, so expect uneven paths and wear comfortable shoes for walking around the grounds. The adjacent Grind Artisan Cafe offers local refreshments and is a good spot to relax after exploring the building and museum displays.
The walls were constructed using large boulders joined together with a mixture of egg whites and coral dust because cement was unavailable in the 18th century. This improvised building method proved surprisingly durable over the centuries.
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