History of Heritage Square

It has been called the hub of entertainment in capital Kingstown, a weekend ‘lime’ for Vincentians, after a usually hard week of work.

Almost every open air gathering or cultural activity in the city takes place there.

Heritage Square.{{more}}

Situated at what is now South River Road, Ouasigani, the indigenous name for Kingstown, was the first recorded place of an encounter between the British and the early inhabitants in early November 1727.

In the latest book by Edgar Adams ‘Saint Vincent in the History of the Carib Nation 1625-1797’, the experience, as described, was not a pleasant one.

According to the book, and as told by a British Naval Officer, two British ships: HMS Winchelsea and a Griffin Sloop anchored in the area somewhere between the present cruise ship terminal and the fish market.

The English contingent which came ashore was met by a number of ‘Indians’ and a white man who proved to be French.

They were armed to the teeth.

The visitors were escorted a mile inland to what is now ‘Heritage Square’ , where they encountered the General seated “amidst a guard of about a hundred Indians; those nearest his person had musquets, the rest bows and arrows and great silence.”

The account continues that when enquired by the General as to the purpose of their visit, the Englishman indicated that they had come ashore to replenish their ships with wood and water.

The General warned the officer that he was informed that the British had come to establish a settlement, and if that was the intention, he should turn around and leave.

The Englishmen returned to their ships, and after some persuasion, brought some Indian and Negro chiefs on board to be entertained while a number of English sailors remained on land to collect wood and water and also hostages.

“Afterwards, I carried them on board the Duke’s sloop, and after opening their hearts with wine, for they scorned to drink rum, I thought it a good time to tell them my commission and what brought me to their coast.”

The British had indeed arrived to set up a colony, although the island was under French rule.

The chiefs informed the officer that he was lucky not to have mentioned that when he was on the island, for he would have been killed instantly. He was informed that the Dutch had previously tried to establish a settlement but were driven off, and that just days before the Indians and Negroes were given arms by the French who had warned about the plans of the British. After this, the chiefs left the ships and the English hostages were returned.

According to the Officer, as the ships sailed off, they fired a cannon, to which they “…received in return as regular vollies of small shot as I ever heard.”

A number of other areas around St. Vincent and the Grenadines are filled with similar stories of historical significance as Heritage Square, but these stories are hidden within the pages of books such as those written by Dr. Adams and other historians.

The historian believes that stories like this and others need to be rekindled and remembered if the historical heritage of St. Vincent is to live on.