The Iron Kettles of Sugar

Boiling Sugar: The Bitter Side of Sweet



The Rise of Sugar in Barbados. Sugarcane growing started in Barbados in the early 1640s, when Dutch merchants presented sugar production. The island's rich soil and beneficial environment made it an ideal area for sugar production. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had actually become one of the wealthiest colonies in the British Empire, earning the nickname "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next:



The Boiling Process: A Lealthal Job

Sugar production in the days of colonial slavery was  a highly dangerous procedure. After harvesting and crushing the sugarcane, its juice was boiled in enormous cast iron kettles till it crystallized into sugar. These pots, typically arranged in a series called a"" train"" were warmed by blazing fires that workers had to stoke continuously. The heat was extreme, and the work unrelenting. Enslaved employees sustained long hours, often standing close to the inferno, risking burns and exhaustion. Splashes of the boiling liquid were not uncommon and could cause extreme, even fatal, injuries.


The Bitter History of Sugar

The sugar industry's success came at a serious human expense. Enslaved workers lived under brutal conditions, subjected to physical penalty, bad nutrition, and ruthless workloads. Yet, they showed amazing resilience. Numerous found methods to protect their cultural heritage, passing down tunes, stories, and skills that sustained their communities even in the face of unimaginable difficulty.


Acknowledging the Past

By acknowledging the unsafe labour of enslaved Africans, we honour their contributions and sacrifices. Barbados" sugar market, built on their backs, formed the island's history and economy. As we admire the antiques of this era, we should also remember individuals whose toil and durability made it possible. Their story is a vital part of understanding not just the history of Barbados however the more comprehensive history of the Caribbean and the international impact of the sugar trade.



 
The video illustrates chapter 20 of Rogues in Paradise. The scene is of Hunts Gardens one of the many gullies in Barbados: Meet the amazing guy who created the most captivated place on earth!

HISTORICAL RECORDS!


Boiling House Horror: The Truth of Sugar Production Revealed in Historical Records

The boiling house was one of the most dangerous put on a Caribbean sugar plantation. Abolitionist authors, including James Ramsay, recorded the shocking conditions oppressed employees sustained, from brutal heat to lethal accidents in open sugar vats.



Molten Memories: The Iron Kettles of Sugar's Past - Check the Blog for More

sugar boiing pots