New Amsterdam Esplanade, Berbice

The image shows the New Amsterdam Esplanade, looking out from the New Amsterdam Berbice Botanical Gardens.

Image 01 - New Amsterdam Esplanade (1900)

Image 02 - New Amsterdam Botanical Gardens (1912)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

[image 02] - Unknown

Queen's College, Georgetown

Image 01 - Queen's College at Carmichael and Quamina Streets (1876)

Image 02 - Queen's College at Carmichael and Quamina Streets (1900)

Image 03 - Queen's College at Carmichael and Quamina Streets (1914)

Image 04 - Queen's College at Brickdam and Vlissengen Roads (1920)

Image 05 - Queen's College at Brickdam (1920)

Image 06 - Queen's College on Brickdam Road looking West (1920)

Image 07 - Queen's College on Brickdam Road (1930)

Image 08 - Queen's College, steps leading to the living quarters of Mr. E.O. Pilgrim (1950)

Image 09 - Sketch of the layout of Queen's College (1950)

Image 10 - Queen's College, the widest wooden building in the world (1951)

Image 11 - Queen's College on Camp and Thomas Roads (1951)

Image 12 - Camp Street entrance of Queen's College (1960)

Image 13 - Queen's College Assembly in the auditorium (1963)

Image 14 - Queen's College Sports Day (1963)

Image 15 - Queen's College staff housing (1963)

Image 16 - Queen's College students on bicycles (1963)

Image 17 - Queen's College view from the air (1963)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

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[image 13] - Illustrated London News, 6th July 1963, Issue 6466, (p.21-23)

[image 14] - Illustrated London News, 6th July 1963, Issue 6466, (p.21-23)

[image 15] - Illustrated London News, 6th July 1963, Issue 6466, (p.21-23)

[image 16] - Illustrated London News, 6th July 1963, Issue 6466, (p.21-23)

[image 17] - Illustrated London News, 6th July 1963, Issue 6466, (p.21-23)

Victoria Roman Catholic Church, Demerara

Image 01 - Roman Catholic Church in Victoria (1900s)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

The Georgetown Club and Assembly Rooms

The Georgetown Club was established in 1858 and located at the bottom level below the Assembly Rooms. The important planters, merchants and government officials were members. Women were not permitted membership. It was here that social interactions and business deals mingled. There were other exclusive clubs established later such as The British Guiana Club (1871) and The Demerara Club (1880). The Assembly Rooms were more for large public and private events and balls. For small gatherings the Assembly Room of the Georgetown Town Hall was normally used.

Image 01 - The Georgetown Club and Assembly Rooms (1900)

Image 02 - The Georgetown Club and Assembly Rooms (1924)

Sources

[Image 01] - Unknown
[Image 02] - Unknown

People of African Origin

Image 01 - African woman poses with head wear in Demerara (1890)

Image 02 - African woman with parasol (umbrella) and valise (suitcase) (1890)

Image 03 - African woman with head wear and distinctive purse (1900s)

Image 04 - African female beauty in Demerara (1909)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown
[image 02] - Unknown
[image 03] - Unknown
[image 04] - Unknown

Murray Street, Georgetown

Image 01 - Murray Street, Georgetown (1900)

Sources:

[image 01] - H.K.L. v. Ziegesar, Georgetown.

Christianburg, Demerara River

Image 01 - Christianburg, Demerara River (1900s)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

Broad Street, Georgetown

Image 01 - Broad Street, Charlestown (1900s)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

Canje Swing Bridge, Berbice

Image 01 - Canje swing bridge, Berbice (1900s)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

Mahaicony Train Crossing

Image 01 - Mahaicony train crossing and bridge (1900)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

The Georgetown Waterworks

In the early days, domestic water supply in the City of Georgetown was obtained from limited artesian wells together with rain water stored in vats and tanks. In 1825, the creation of the Lamaha Canal was proposed to bring fresh water from Lamaha Creek into Georgetown. The canal was completed using slave labour. Along the length of the Lamaha Canal, plantations and villages tapped into it based on a cost-sharing agreement. Water for fire-fighting was also needed. In 1864, Water Street was the business center of Georgetown and was devastated by two fires. The first fire flattened nearly all of Robbstown while the second destroyed Cummingsburg. The British Guiana Court of Policy reacted immediately by passing ordinances to guard against future fires. The resulting actions included wider streets, drainage and sewage improvements, and improving the physical layout design of Robbstown. Another major improvement in 1866 was the creation of the Georgetown Waterworks at Camp and Church Streets, and laying out of water mains in the city for mainly fire fighting purposes. The water originated from the Lamaha Water Conservancy and flowed along streams and canals to the Georgetown Waterworks, and then it was pumped from a reservoir into the street mains. This canal has now been filled-in to become the Merriman's Mall. In 1886, an ornate drinking fountain was erected at the current Cenotaph location to celebrate the completion of the Georgetown Waterworks. The images show scenes about the Georgetown Waterworks in British Guiana.

Image 01 - The Camp and Church Street entrance of the Georgetown Waterworks (1900s).

Image 02 - The filters of the Georgetown Waterworks (1900s).

Image 03 - Perspective view of the filters at the Waterworks (1900s).

Image 04 - Drinking fountain marking the completion of the Waterworks (1900s).

Sources

[Image 01] - New York Public Library, 1900s.
[Image 02] - New York Public Library, 1900s.
[Image 03] - Stabroek News, Guyana.
[Image 04] - Unknown.

Caretaker's Lodge, Botanical Gardens

The caretaker's lodge is an exquisite building situated at the main entrance of the Botanical Gardens. It was designed in 1880 and used by the Directors of the Gardens for meetings. A fully-functional black and gold clock adorned the outside of the building. The clock was built in memory of George Samuel Jenman who trained at Kew Gardens, and was a Government Botanist and Superintendent of the Botanical Gardens from 1879 to 1902. The image shows the caretaker's lodge and clock.

Image 01 - Caretaker's lodge, Botanical Gardens (1900).

Image 02 - Caretaker's lodge, Botanical Gardens (1900).

Image 03 - Caretaker's lodge, Botanical Gardens (1905).

Image 04 - Caretaker's lodge with clock, Botanical Gardens (1910).

Image 05 - Caretaker's lodge with clock, Botanical Gardens (1924).

Sources

[Image 01] - Unknown.
[Image 02] - Unknown.
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[Image 04] - Unknown.
[Image 05] - Unknown.

Botanical Gardens Bandstand, Georgetown

The Bandstand of the Botanic Gardens was built in 1899 and dedicated to John Brumell who was one of the Directors of the garden. He also held administrative office as a salaried British Magistrate and Sheriff in Demerara. The image shows the Bandstand in British Guiana.

Image 01 - The Bandstand, Botanical Gardens (1900s).

Image 02 - The Bandstand, Botanical Gardens (1905).

Image 03 - The Bandstand, Botanical Gardens (1910).

Sources

[Image 01] - Unknown.
[Image 02] - Unknown.
[Image 03] - Unknown.

Saint George's Cathedral, Georgetown

St. George's Cathedral is located on Church Street, Georgetown and at a height of 143 feet, is one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. It is an Anglican Cathedral designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and formally opened on 24th August 1892, consecrated on 8th November 1894, with completion of the building occurring in 1899. The building is constructed from mainly Greenheart. The images show the St. George's Cathedral in British Guiana.

Image 01 - Saint George's Cathedral (1900s).

Image 02 - Saint George's Cathedral (1920).

Sources

[Image 01] - Unknown.
[Image 02] - Unknown.

Saint Andrew's Kirk, Georgetown

St. Andrews Kirk is located on Brickdam avenue and opposite the Parliament Buildings. It is widely considered to be the oldest building in Georgetown that was in continuous use for religious purposes. The building had roots in 1811 with the Dutch Reformed Church of Holland and for financial reasons was transferred to the Scottish Presbyterians and opened on 28th February 1818. Slaves were allowed to worship at this church. The image shows the St. Andrews Kirk church in British Guiana.

Image 01 - Saint Andrew's Kirk (1900s).

Image 02 - Saint Andrew's Kirk (1910).

Sources

[Image 01] - Unknown
[Image 02] - Unknown

The Portuguese in British Guiana

On 3rd May 1835, the Portuguese from Madeira arrived in British Guiana as indentured labourers [1]. They were industrious, thrifty, patient, persevering, and aspire to commercial trading [2]. After indentureship, they would rent or lease houses built by Creoles and convert them into shops, with rooms above or behind in which to live [2]. In this way wealth was accumulated quickly. Soon they controlled the bulk of the retail trade of the colony. The Portuguese retained their traditional cuisine such as cabbage, pumpkin soup, corn-meal, garlic pork, salt-fish, and wine that was imported from Madeira. Religion was a pillar of their culture and many were Roman Catholics. The Africans were school-masters, artisans, porters, gold and diamond diggers, and Balata bleeders. The East Indians loved the land and had a fondness for agriculture and pastoral activities. The Chinese were interested in trade and commerce, and they competed with the Portuguese in this regard. These main peoples together with the Amerindians were the driving labour force of the Colony [3]. The image shows a Portuguese grocery store in the Stabroek Market in 1900s British Guiana.



Sources

[image] -The UK National Archives, 1900s


Bibliography

[1] A brief history of the Portuguese in Guyana, Stabroek News, 2010-05-04.
[2] Bennett, G.H. (1866). An illustrated history of British Guiana. Richardson and Co.
[3] British Guiana (1924). British Guiana. Saunders and Phillips & Co.

The Ox as a Beast of Burden

The ox (also called a bullock) was used in British Guiana to pull the sugar punts and plow the rice fields. The ox is usually a castrated male cattle since it is easier to control. A bull is a cattle that has not been castrated. These animals are well maintained since they are a tool for income, and since the Laws of British Guiana (1866) stipulated that stray animals found trespassing on private property can be taken to the nearest Pound and only released if a fine of 48 cents is paid by the animal owner to the property owner. The image shows an ox on the roadside of 1900s British Guiana.



Sources
[image] Unknown

Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara

Vreed-en-Hoop is a town located on the left bank of the Demerara River. The name is Dutch origin and means "peace and hope: The town was founded by an indentured servant who won the land at an auction. The Market is a popular attraction. The image shows a scene from Vreed-en-Hoop in 1900s British Guiana.

 

Sources
[image] H.K.L. von Ziegesar