THERE’S LOTS TO DO IN ST. KITTS!

Exploring the many fascinating aspects of the small Caribbean island of St. Kitts is something Caribbean Volunteer Expedition (CVE) and Elderhostel participants have been doing for a number of years. Alive with history, and boasting wonderful scenery and warm blue seas (and just a short ‘plane ride away from the bustle of San Juan), St. Kitts and its sister island of Nevis have proven to be popular destinations for volunteers interested in participating in a variety of heritage preservation projects.

The first CVE foray to Nevis, which is a short ferry ride from St. Kitts, in 1996 saw volunteers battling thick bush and masses of vines in order to find, clear and record the standing remains of the old shipping port of St. George, located on cliffs at the south end of the island. Succeeding trips saw us exploring, measuring and recording abandoned windmills, sugar factories, great (and some not so great) houses and forts, with the drawings that resulted from these expeditions making their way into the archives of the Nevis Historical & Conservation Society. One week, the volunteers undertook emergency repairs to the house where it is thought that Alexander Hamilton was born, and it was agreed that this work made a fine alternative to battling thorny trees and insects. It is rewarding to be able to report that in later years the Hamilton House withstood a number of hurricanes, thanks to those repairs, and it is now a prominent tourist attraction.

Eventually, word of our exploits on Nevis reached St. Kitts, and the St. Christopher Heritage Society. Colonised by England in the 1600s, St. Kitts (properly called St. Christopher) is known as the “Mother of the English-speaking Caribbean”. Shared with France in the early days, sole English possession in 1713 allowed the island to expand its sugar cane agriculture to the extent that by the mid-1700s any suitable land was under cultivation. Along with cane came enslaved Africans by their thousands, and whilst sugar cane cultivation was recently abandoned on the island, descendents of the generations of Africans brought to the island are now proudly building an independent nation with an economy that is based upon tourism, featuring the natural and built heritage of the island.

In 1999 we undertook our first St. Kitts Elderhostel project, a historic cemetery survey. Being an English colony, once the island was settled it was divided into parishes, each one with a church and accompanying grave yard. With a decreasing population to care for the cemeteries and the ravages of time, the graves in these parish churches are in danger of becoming lost and illegible, and as no early burial records survive for these churches. CVE was asked by the St. Christopher Heritage Society to undertake a historic cemetery inventory. We were happy to undertake this worthwhile project, and so began our association with St. Kitts.

With our early focus on the recording of historic buildings it was natural that our projects on the island would be involved with this work, and for several years CVE  ran a very popular Elderhostel program at Wingfield Estate, where we recorded the standing remains (including the site of a water wheel) and excavated various small foundations and features. Located at the side of the Wingfield River, and in the shade of centuries-old tropical trees Wingfield was, and remains, a wonderful place to spend a week. We are looking forwards to returning to this site in January of 2008.

Excavating at Wingfield Estate

Participating in historic cemetery surveys holds a particular fascination for many people, and this has proved to be so for our St. Kitts programs. We have now completed surveys of all of the country churches, and the main church grave yard in Basseterre, the island’s capital, and the record sheets and photographs are lodged with the Heritage Society. For the past 4 years we have been working at the massive Springfield cemetery in town. Established in 1858, the cemetery covers an area of 60 acres and is home to an interesting range of graves. Each winter we offer two historic cemetery surveys in St. Kitts, and each year these popular programs are very quickly filled.

Springfield Cemetery crew- January, 2005

St. Kitts is also home to Brimstone Hill Fortress, one of only two Caribbean UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and for the winter of 2007/08 we are pleased to be able to offer a new Elderhostel program at this unique site. With its spectacular views over the mountains and to the Caribbean Sea far below, the fortress will provide program participants with a host of new opportunities to explore the history and culture of the island and the wider Caribbean, whilst contributing to the preservation and development of this very impressive and important part of world history.

Fort George, Brimstone Hill

Small islands in the Caribbean, and their small populations, are in a desperate struggle to find the resources to record and maintain their past. St. Kitts recognizes that its heritage is key to establishing an identity, and a vital component in any sustainable tourism industry. The work undertaken by CVE and Elderhostel volunteers continues to make a significant contribution to the future of St. Kitts.

But it isn’t all work on St. Kitts. With interesting places to explore and study each day’s programs are full, but as our ‘home-away-from- home’ is located by the sea, we always leave time at the end of each day for a swim or relaxing walk on the beach. It’s no wonder we are beginning to have volunteers returning. Check out our programs on the island. There is always a lot to do in St. Kitts!