Stepney, St George, Barbados

Location:
Stepney House is ideally located in the countryside but only 10 minutes' drive from Bridgetown and the South Coast. It is a mere mile and a half from the Emancipation statue (Bussa), a well-known landmark on the ABC highway. It offers a spectacular panoramic view of the fertile Bulkeley Valley and the ridge stretching from Cave hill in St. Michael to District C in St. Philip. A major shopping centre, gas station, mini mart and emergency medical centre are all within 2 miles. Access is via an excellent concrete road connecting directly to highway 5.

History:
The House is believed to have been built prior to the 1690's and underwent changes through the ages. A sketch "Stepney Barbados from nature 1831" by James Hawkins, previously displayed at the Barbados Museum, shows the house with the same basic structure as it stands today.

Features:
Stepney House is "listed" by the Barbados National Trust and bears its plaque. It is built on a brow overlooking the Bulkeley Valley and its outstanding Character is mentioned in many books and magazines. Covering approximately 3.6 acres, the grounds feature unique buttresses and a 40-step stone stairway, 11ft wide.
Also included are traditional "sweet lime" hedges, large lawns, a mango orchard and generous paved parking areas. A 37 ft. swimming pool and gazebo is set in the gardens to the East of the house. Outbuildings include a two-bedroom cottage, watchman's hut and staff quarters.
The spacious dining room features unique large carved mahogany pillars and are complemented by a unique staircase of carved mahogany rails. References have been made in historic publications to the grand feasts held in this unique dining room.
From the top floor a small stairway leads to the "fish pond" roof referred to in "A to Z of Barbadian heritage" by Henry Fraser et.al. and is probably the only example remaining today in an occupied property.

At the Northwestern end of the property a coral stone wall with arches, forms a courtyard which includes a "drip stone" and a water gutter header dated 1807 and cast in solid ½" lead. The entrance to the home features marble floor tiles, a stained-glass window over the front door, and a unique window similar to those swinging types found in old churches.

Featuring a cellar, the home is built with a number of galleries and patios. The main sitting room is surrounded by a number of paneled doorways leading to galleries. Paneled windows with built-in hurricane shutters can be found on both floors.
On the ground floor the polished pine floors add to the outstanding character of the dining and sitting rooms. The kitchen wing contains a breakfast room, displaying its old stone finish, a modern kitchen and the old kitchen with its original chimney. The garage, adjoining the kitchen wing, provides covered parking for four cars.

Cottage
The original stables have been converted into a two-bedroom cottage with two-foot-wide walls and two patios. The modern kitchen and bathroom feature granite counter tops.
Renewable Energy
A solar PV electricity system, with battery back-up supplies a substantial part of the electricity demand at the property, and solar hot water systems provide hot water for the house and cottage. The pool also features a solar hot water heating system fitted to the roof of the Gazebo.

Other
Many scenes for the German film "Betrayal in Paradise" were shot at the house. It was also featured in the Spanish television series " Callejeros Viajeros " .