18th Century Sugar Estate
When the newly arrived slave reached the plantations after his tedious journey from the auction or scramble, this is what would meet his or her eyes, a large sprawling plantation with different buildings and crops.
The land was used for mainly three purposes:
1. Agriculture: Canefields woodlands and provision grounds
2. Buildings: Factory, workshops and hospital/goal
3. Living Quarters: Great House, Overseer's house and slave huts
Canefields
Most of the land was used for the cultivation of the canes. Other colonies such as Jamaica had land that was not suitable for sugar cultivation but was used for other crops such as coffee.
Provision Grounds
These were small individual plots allotted to the field slaves to plant cash crops for their daily meals. These include plantains, yams, cassava and vegetables.
The Woodland
This was important in an age where there is no electricity or gas. The estates needed the wood to provide fuel for the boiling house, for cooking and other domestic purposes. The lumber was also used by the skilled slaves such as carpenters to repair broken fences and gutters and to build sheds.
On some estates a small portion of land was set aside for the grazing of the estate's animal. This was also important as it provided a means or supply of manure. The animals were also used to compliment the planter's imported food supply. For example, chickens provided both eggs and meat. Some planters kept cows for fresh milk and pigs that were slaughtered at Christmas and shared among the ex-slaves.
The Factory
The factory was a very important area of any sugar estate. It generally consisted of five buildings all of which were extremely crucial to the efficient operations of the manufacturing process. Here, the most expensive pieces of equipment are kept and used.
-Mill
-Boiling House
-Trash House
-Curing House
-Distillery
Workshops
This is the work area designated to the artisans. It is also the place where their tools and unfinished work is kept.
The land was used for mainly three purposes:
1. Agriculture: Canefields woodlands and provision grounds
2. Buildings: Factory, workshops and hospital/goal
3. Living Quarters: Great House, Overseer's house and slave huts
Canefields
Most of the land was used for the cultivation of the canes. Other colonies such as Jamaica had land that was not suitable for sugar cultivation but was used for other crops such as coffee.
Provision Grounds
These were small individual plots allotted to the field slaves to plant cash crops for their daily meals. These include plantains, yams, cassava and vegetables.
The Woodland
This was important in an age where there is no electricity or gas. The estates needed the wood to provide fuel for the boiling house, for cooking and other domestic purposes. The lumber was also used by the skilled slaves such as carpenters to repair broken fences and gutters and to build sheds.
On some estates a small portion of land was set aside for the grazing of the estate's animal. This was also important as it provided a means or supply of manure. The animals were also used to compliment the planter's imported food supply. For example, chickens provided both eggs and meat. Some planters kept cows for fresh milk and pigs that were slaughtered at Christmas and shared among the ex-slaves.
The Factory
The factory was a very important area of any sugar estate. It generally consisted of five buildings all of which were extremely crucial to the efficient operations of the manufacturing process. Here, the most expensive pieces of equipment are kept and used.
-Mill
-Boiling House
-Trash House
-Curing House
-Distillery
Workshops
This is the work area designated to the artisans. It is also the place where their tools and unfinished work is kept.