Saint Philip – Founded in 1681 among Antigua's sugar estates
Saint Philip was created in August 1681, when Antigua was divided into five parishes, and was permanently established in 1692. As elsewhere on the island, its early colonial history was dominated by sugar: more than 36 sugar mills once stood here, alongside smaller rum, cattle and muscovado production. After the abolition of slavery in 1834, Freetown grew into a settlement of freed people and was at one time the largest such village on Antigua. Historically, the parish was divided into the Belfast and Nonsuch divisions. Today Saint Philip is the easternmost and least populous parish, with a long Atlantic coastline, farmland and wild stretches of nature. Do you know more stories from Saint Philip? Share them here in Local History!