The Iron Heart of Barbados' Sugar

Tragic Molten Memories: The Iron Trains of Sugar





Barbados Sugar Economy: A Tragic Exploitation. The introduction of the "plantation system" revolutionized the island's economy. Large estates owned by rich planters controlled the landscape, with oppressed Africans providing the labour required to sustain the demanding procedure of planting, harvesting, and processing sugarcane. This system generated tremendous wealth for the nest and solidified its location as a key player in the Atlantic trade. But African slaves toiled in perilous conditions, and many died in the infamous Boiling room, as you will see next:

The Dangerous Labour Of Sugar

In the glare of Barbados' sun-soaked coasts and lively greenery lies a darker tale of resilience and hardship-- the dangerous labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the large cast iron boiling pots, necessary tools in the sugar production process, however likewise traumatic symbols of the gruelling conditions faced by enslaved Africans.

The Boiling Process: A Grueling Job

Sugar production in the days of colonial slavery was  a perilous process. After gathering and squashing the sugarcane, its juice was boiled in enormous cast iron kettles until it crystallized into sugar. These pots, typically arranged in a series called a"" train"" were heated up by blazing fires that workers had to stir constantly. The heat was extreme, , and the work unrelenting. Enslaved workers sustained long hours, typically standing close to the inferno, risking burns and fatigue. Splashes of the boiling liquid were not uncommon and could trigger extreme, even deadly, injuries.




Now, the big cast iron boiling pots points out this unpleasant past. Scattered across gardens, museums, and archaeological sites in Barbados, they stand as quiet witnesses to the lives they touched. These antiques encourage us to review the human suffering behind the sweet taste that once drove international economies.


HISTORICAL RECORDS!


Abolitionist literature on The Dangers of the Boiling House

Abolitionist literature, consisting of James Ramsay's works, details the horrific dangers dealt with by enslaved workers in sugar plantations. The boiling home, with its dangerously hot barrels, was a fatal workplace where exhaustion and extreme heat resulted in tragic accidents.


Molten Memories: The Iron Kettles of Sugar - See the link for Details

Boiling Down Sweetness