You enter under the big porte cochère, and in through the central front door with its charming dolphin knocker.
The gracious and high ceilinged central reception hall features a gilded and carved marble-topped console and mirror from the 1880’s. The two side chairs have Gothic style backs and Trust fabric on the seats. The oak English settee on the right is easily the oldest piece in the house, a heavily restored treasure from the 1720’s. What stories it could tell!
The small mahogany wall bench opposite has an interesting carved back and arms. The Persian carpets on the floor arc part of the collection of Persians seen throughout the house. The carved torchère is actually a Barbadian mahogany bedpost cut down, and there are several examples of these stands in the various rooms.
On the right, you enter into the elegant Long Room, the most imposing room of the house, with its spacious proportions, many windows and plaster ceiling rosettes. The alabaster art deco ceiling lights were brought back from a trip to italy by the Leacocks. The furniture is, without exception, of great interest. Some pieces not to miss: the mid-19th century mahogany drum table on a pedestal, with reeded legs and brass casters, sporting a Chinese motif in the porcelain bowl, the plates on the wall, and the unusual ceramic bowl with Chinese figures clinging to the edge. Two lovely examples of caned single-ended couches, one with tulip legs, the other c. 1820’s with a scroll back, brass insets and casters. By one window is a low Victorian “priedieu” chair on casters, and a delicate music stand, by the other is an 1835 William IV upholstered armchair. Across from it is an important 1830 carved and caned Bergere chair. The two console tables flanking the inner doors are William IV, with lovely carved acanthus leaves on the legs and paw feet. The veneer is in the process of being restored. On one of these tables are a splendid pair of Rockingham Works jars and English bone china plates, on the other are Minton plates and pieces in the Sevres style
The bookcases are imposing, one an early 19th century piece cut down from a much larger piece, the other in the far left comer with Gothic tracery on the glass doors, filled with lovely Meissen figurines, and other French and English treasures. On the far wall is a splendid Barbadian mahogany sideboard with a carved back, featuring a collection of green glass. Above it is a 1930s oil painting of Morgan Lewis Windmill, a Trust property, done by J. Bailey, on loan from the Bannister family. In the north corner is a rare and lovely due – an oval backed Victorian chair still with its original 1860s fabric hidden under the slip cover, and a carved card table in Georgian style. The piano is a turn of the century German Bechstein, one of the great pianos.

From the Long Room you can now explore the rear of the house. This section, above the old kitchen, was once the large kitchen now divided into kitchen, library and hall. The office reception area was created out of the old cloakroom and pantry, with a separate office entrance and portico added on. Most of the furniture in these rooms is from the Trust’s original collection, once housed in our former Victorian headquarters “Govan” (Ronald Tree House) in Belleville.
You will find a photo of our English founder Ronald Tree in reception, standing in front of his Barbadian home Heron Bay. On the walls are displayed part of the Trust’s extensive historic photo collection and other Trust memorabilia. There is a full basement, which once housed the old kitchen, but this is not open to the public today.
The art deco table and leather chairs in the Library are from the Leacock collection with silver gilt decoration, made by Bath Furniture in England. Note also the wallpaper, part of the Plantation collection of The Barbados National Trust, designed and sold by Schumacher in the U.S.
The sample books are on the table for viewing.
“The library walls are papered in Codrington Garden pattern.
Do proceed upstairs to the working offices of the Trust, entered from a spacious stair hall. The Barbadian glass-fronted cabinet on the right has a collection of China donated by Trust members. On the right was the master bedroom, now divided into two Executive Offices. On the left is Christopher Leacock’s former bedroom, now the Board Room, with its fine old Bajan mahogany table. The other offices were created from guest bedrooms and dressing rooms. The architectural photographs on the walls are part of the extensive Trust collection.

Retrace your steps back downstairs and enter the dining room on the right, with very English antique pieces The round dining table easily seats 10, and is surrounded by six Regency chairs from the 1820s. The English sideboard on the right has a brass back rail and interesting brass lion head handles. On it is some of the superb Leacock silver collection, also displayed in the semi-circular glass fronted cabinet, and the tall slender cabinet with the silver and glass tankards. Note the 1790s English brass and mahogany octagonal cellarette (for holding wine and liqueurs), with the lion’s head and brass casters. Other English antiques are the three shield back chairs with the wheat-sheaf design and medallion carving, the large corner cabinet filled with splendid crystal glass including Lalique, and the bow front English corner cabinets (not yet hung). The Chinese screen is rosewood with ivory and mother of pearl inlays. Hanging on the walls are an interesting collection of old maps and prints. The rug on the floor between the rooms is a valuable Sarouk.
The Drawing Room retains the Leacock’s 1950s brocaded sofa and matching armchairs. Some notable pieces are the late 19th century sofa table below the alcove with Leacock family photos, the Chinese miniatures of ceramic, ivory and jade in the alcove, and the round mahogany table with a lovely collection of old paperweights on it. Above this is a 1920s painting of Belleville by Barbadian Kathleen Hawkins. In the window is a charming
“birdcage” piecrust table, that revolves and also tilts up. The curved glass china cabinet contains another wonderful collection of Derby, Meissen, Minton China, and Lalique glass. Note the Berbice chair in the corner by the bookcase. This design originated in the Berbice area of Guyana, and is a planter’s armchair with pull out pieces for putting up your legs. The woman’s version had lower pull-outs for modesty
You can exit the house through the west verandah. Do pause to admire the lawn, with its Italian style lily pond and coralstone Greek columned Pergola. Here you can sample refreshments, browse in our shop and satisfy your sweet tooth at the confectionery table. Enjoy a stroll through the lawn to the east, which will bring you back round to the front of the house. The semi-circular garden here is of a more formal style, whilst there is also an extensive wooded area all around and behind the drive, sporting a variety of ornamental trees.