Boarded Hall, St George, Barbados

The historic Bulkeley Great House is nestled on approximately 8 acres of lush grounds, flanked by a greenscape complete with mature mahogany trees. Situated across from what was once its associated factory, the Bulkeley Sugar Factory, this centrally located plantation house dates all the way back to 1651. It was first owned by a member of Parliament, Sir William Bulkeley, and, although it has passed through a number of hands over the centuries, it has kept its glorious colonial charm.

The 2-storey 10,000sq.ft. main house is accentuated by an L-shaped patio which graces the front of the property and wraps around to overlook the magnificent gardens and lagoon style pool, embellished by cascading waterfalls.

The interior is extremely spacious. To the right of the foyer, there is a grand salon, complete with grand piano, which in turn flows into the dining hall. This living space opens out to the large garden side patio. Across the hall, there is a family room with an adjoining sun room/ reading lounge and a powder room. The kitchen has ample cupboard and counter space, an island and a casual dining area which opens out to the garden.

A sophisticated mahogany staircase leads up to the bedrooms. To the right of the landing, there is the primary bedroom which is massive, with its own sitting room (currently in use as an office). The large en-suite bathroom has his & hers vanities, a shower and closets. There is an interconnecting nursery/toddler's bedroom (currently in use as a gym). Bedroom 3 is off to the left of the landing and accesses the full bathroom at the northern end of the hallway. Bedroom 4 is quite spacious and has an en-suite bathroom.

There is a guest cottage across from the main house, which has an open plan living and dining room and a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Its patio overlooks a lush area in front of 9 individual stables. There are several outbuildings which include a large store room and staff kitchenette. An external northern gate separates 3 clusters of offices, staff quarters and grooms' quarters from the heart of the property, allowing it to maintain its privacy. There are 2 paddocks closer to the main entrance.

The property does need cosmetic renovation, as could be expected of a property which is several hundred years old. However, its beautiful grounds, its splendid architecture and its versatile spaces make it a worthwhile investment.