Romney Manor

Old Road was the first British town in the entire Caribbean. Sir Thomas Warner landed at Old Road Bay on 28 January 1623 with 15 settlers. Just above Old Road Town is the 17th-century Romney Manor sugar estate, now home to Caribelle Batik. Artisans at the workshop provide live demonstrations of the batik process, and sell their products here as well. Best of all are the beautifully restored gardens surrounding the manor and featuring a magnificent saman tree said to be 350 years old. Nearby, the church of St Thomas – the first Anglican church in the British Caribbean – is still standing.  Another constant of Romney Manor has been its 400-year-old SAMAN tree. If trees could talk, this one could tell the entire story of the Caribbean.