Parliament Buildings

The Parliament Buildings are a Gothic Revival structure made from local limestone that sits at the top of Broad Street with a clock tower rising from the West Wing. The complex houses the Senate and House of Assembly chambers along with a National Heroes Gallery and Museum of Parliament.

The Parliament of Barbados was founded in 1639, making it the third oldest in the Commonwealth, though it relocated to these specific buildings in 1874. The move to the new premises marked a turning point when the island's governing body gained new physical space for its growing legislative work.

The East Wing displays stained glass windows showing British monarchs from James I to Queen Victoria, created by local craftsmen Thomas and Charles Hawkesley. These windows shape how the building looks today and tell a visual story of the island's historical ties through their artistic details.

The buildings are surrounded by cast iron railings that clearly mark the boundaries of the complex and provide orientation for visitors walking around the area. The site sits within a busy commercial district, so plan your visit to observe the architecture from Broad Street where you get the full view of the front facade.

The cast iron railings were manufactured by Andrew Handyside & Co. Ltd, a notable British factory that produced ornamental metalwork for buildings across the empire. These details are easily missed by visitors but reveal how much craftsmanship went into every part of the structure.

Location: Bridgetown

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Website: http://barbadosparliament.com

GPS coordinates: 13.09699,-59.61392

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:27