Greencastle Hill is the remnant of an isolated volcano which was exposed to wave action at the beginning of the Oligocene period due to the subsidence of the island of Antigua.  An array of close-fitting rhomboidal and polygonal columns was formed during the contraction of slowly cooling lava flows and subsequent erosion produced a plateau strewn with rocks and boulders.

These stone features include the “megaliths” and “sacrificial slabs” which are considered by some authorities to be the remains of a prehistoric astronomical observatory and temple. The possibility was explored in the New York Times March 14, 1971, in an article entitled: “Antigua’s Tropical Stonehenge”. Other authorities, including geologists, consider the “megaliths” to be purely natural formations, although there is some agreement that the naturally occurring features could have been positioned and worked by human-kind.

A survey of the site was done in March 2001 in order to determine if this area could possibly have been of significance as a religious or celestial observatory. Results of the survey indicated correlations between the azimuths of the investigated stones and those of celestial bodies. Also of interest was of correlations found with the bearings of the “female stones”; two stones in a “V” shape suggesting female imagery. Further research needs to be done, but at this time the possibility of a “Tropical Stonehenge” is well within the bounds of possibility!

Situated on a low round hill on the south west entrance to St. John's Harbour, Goat Hill was a strategic point on the west coast of Antigua.  Construction of the initial defense works began about the same time as Fort James on the northern side of the harbour.  It is a unique fort in its design and also has the distinction as the only fort on Antigua to have seen enemy action and to have fallen to invading forces, twice.

In 1652, Goat Hill was the dramatic site of the exploits of the debonair Prince Rupert, grandson of James I and the first member of the royal family to visit the West Indies.  Hoping to capture Antigua for the Royalist cause, the Prince and Sir Robert Holmes captured the fort at Goat Hill and raided two of the Parliament's vessels anchored in Deep Bay below.  The early fort with its a single gun was taken during the night by Sir Robert and the Prince attacked from the sea by daylight.  One Commonwealth ship was sunk in the bay and the other was captured and taken to Montserrat.

In 1666, a French military force landed in Deep Ray and took Goat Hill.  At that time, there were eight guns at the site.  They also captured the crude defense platform at Galley Bay, which had six guns mounted on earth- mounds. The English...

This is a fine example of a muscavado sugar factory of the late 19^th Century, reputed to have been the finest in the Caribbean in the 1890’s.

The large horizontal steam engine remains with its enormous flywheel still sporting its governor and ornamental colours of yellow and green.  The engine is dated 1890 and was manufactured in Glasgow by McOnie, Harvie & Co.

There are two other steam engines, a high-speed one used for cutting cane prior to grinding and a small one for pumping water into the boilers, which still possess their massive pressure gauges. About 1945, the Antigua Distillery Ltd took over Montpelier, Lynch’s, Colebrook’s, Brown’s, Walrond’s, Harman’s and Hope’s

Estates.  The reason for buying the factory was to produce molasses for their rum distillery at Rat Island.

In 1952, the large overhead crane was brought in from Barbados.  Mr. Francis Nunes was the last Manager.  He held the position from Nov 1946 until Jan 1955.  The factory closed down due to labour troubles after the last crop in 1954. The last planter to live in the estate house was “Tank” Maginley, who in retirement, became...