The Chattel House: Icon of Barbados Identity
Discover Barbados' Chattel House History. The chattel home is among the most recognisable signs of Barbados-- a little wooden home with brilliant Caribbean colours, steep gable roofs, and verandahs that welcome the breeze. However beyond their appeal, belongings homes bring an effective and uniquely Barbadian story. These homes emerged after emancipation, when previously enslaved people were free but still had little access to land. Plantation owners managed most of the island, so employees typically resided on land they did not own. Their homes required to be theirs-- but also needed to move with them if the landowner altered, the work shifted, or the family sought a new start. The service was ingenious: build a home that could stroll. Set on coral stone obstructs instead of a repaired structure, the chattel home could be raised, shifted, and rolled to a brand-new location. Neighbours would gather to help, turning every move into a moment of neighborhood and event. It was a home y...