The birth of the Barbadian (Bajan) chattel house came out of necessity for the newly freed slaves of this former British colony, to be able build a house that could be moved from site to site since they didn’t own any land. The word “chattel” refers to one’s portable possessions which included slaves.

Free but not “free”.

Slavery was abolished throughout the British West Indies in 1834. At this point, slaves are pretty much homeless, so the government enacted a four-year apprenticeship program whereby slaves could remain on their plantations and work without pay for “room and board.” After full emancipation was gained in 1838, the British Government compensated the owners for the loss of their slaves. The thought was that the owners would pay some sort of severance to the newly freed people but that never happened. A few owners gave parcels of land to their former slaves but that was the exception, not the rule.

Typical slave housing and outhouse. The main building would have a thatched or galvanize roof.

Starting from zero.

With this newly found freedom, and no compensation to help you get on your feet, many remained on the plantations and worked for a salary. The Located Labour Act of 1840 enabled the former slaves to lease land from the owners for a relatively small fee. With steady income, the prospect of building your own house was now very real, however the thought that your lease could be terminated on the whim of your employer, and your family evicted at any time meant that you had to construct a house that was portable. I’ve personally witnessed our family home being moved in the 1960’s. You get the word out to the community, and especially to someone who had a lorry (truck), everyone would show up about 6:00 in the morning ready to go. My father was a carpenter/ joiner, so he would have everything loosened and ready. The women would prepare a simple lunch, usually canned corned beef and biscuits (crackers) and there would be rum afterwards. By nightfall, we’d be back in the house.

Construction.

This type of house construction can be classified as modular as additional units could easily be added. Houses started out as a single, roughly 10x 18-foot two room unit or “onehouse,” made of cheap pine, with wooden floors and a four-sided hip or steep gabled galvanize roof. The beams and uprights of the walls were done with mortice and tenon joints. This made for easy disassembly in the event a relocation was necessary. The doors and windows were made in the louvred jalousie style which gave a bit of privacy and also aided with ventilation. Cooking was done outside in a lean to and bathroom facilities (pit toilet) were outside as well.

Moving on up.

With the passage of time, more and more freed people could acquire land and expand the size of their houses. You built when you had the money, there was no borrowing of money in those times. As building ramped up, the craftsmen of the day were able to show off their skills. The chattel house stayed true to its original style, but new design elements began to emerge. Indoor plumbing would come later, and bathrooms would be added. These were usually built of stone or concrete.

New designs and embellishments.

Bell shaped awnings, filigree and fret work, verandahs, porticos, wrap around porches and cedar shingled siding were some of the newer design features.

The old, dilapidated and the old, preserved.

These houses have stood the test of time. Sadly, a lot of them are gone, but others are well preserved and are still occupied today. The style has been incorporated into new builds, souvenir shops, other small businesses and outdoor museums.

The Barbados National trust has been making an effort to preserve some of our historical treasures. The heritage village at Tyrol Cot, is a great showcase for these disappearing icons which dotted the landscape from coast to coast.

Some of the well-preserved chattels that are still being used as residences like these on beach front.

Residential chattels still in use.

As we travel around the country, we still see lots of chattels, some standing majestically while others are in a state of disrepair. It’s not uncommon to see one of these small units sitting right next to a multi-million-dollar villa or hotel. Let me explain. Back in colonial times when sugar was king (Barbados was one of the major producers), most of the plantations with their great houses and wealthy owners, were located in the interior of the island. The poor and working class were relegated to the coastal and beach front areas where there wasn’t as much rich agricultural land. These are now prime real estate lots and would be developers have to pay top dollar to acquire them. Some families still remain in their little houses as they have for generations with no desire to move while others have cashed in. That’s quite the turn around!