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Style: An historic country home and fine example of Palladian Caribbean architecture created by Oliver Messel, who also designed the gardens which have areas of great theatrical flair. A Barbados villa suited to lovers of fine antiques and countrified living
The Beach: Nearest beach Sandy Lane, approximately 8 minutes drive
The Rooms: 4 bedrooms all en suite - villa occupancy 6 persons (maximum 7 on request)
Key features: One of the Barbados villas with most historical interest. Swimming pool 36' x 20', from 4.5'deep at the shallow end to 8' at the deep end, cable TV, DVD, CD player, fax machine, ADSL high speed internet access, WiFi and VoIP.
Children: May be accepted subject to special request
Staff: Cook, housekeeper/butler, laundress, gardener/night watchman |
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Description
Cockade House is a theatrical example of the late Oliver Messel’s flair, which he lavished on Barbados more than anywhere else in the Caribbean. Not too many years ago Cockade House was surrounded by canefields and was considered off the beaten track. There are still traces of this more rural past, and the tree lined avenue to the house remains the same, but now the canefields have been replaced by the manicured greens and fairways of Sandy Lane’s newest golf courses, which roll down towards the coast. Cockade House still enjoys far reaching views to the Caribbean Sea, and there are a number of terraces from which to watch the sun setting. With around 7 ½ acres of grounds and gardens in which to roam, this is a house that will particularly appeal to anyone looking for a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the West Coast.
The origins of Cockade House date back to the 17th Century when the then Plantation Great House was known variously as Sampson Hall, Guidea (or Giddy) Hall and Bennetts Great House. The original remains can be clearly seen in the foundations of the current main building. The Palladian inspired re-modelling of Cockade House was the work of celebrated stage designer and sometime architect Oliver Messel, who transformed the property, and many others in Barbados, in the early 1970s. He also designed the gardens, and was able to retain many of the plantation’s old trees, including 350-year old tamarinds, frangipani and royal palms. Over the years numerous rare trees and plants have been added as well as a host of fruit trees including lime, lemon, grapefruit, soursop, mango, fig and the Barbados cherry. Sir Peter Glanville, a former stage director at London’s Covent Garden, created the garden’s artistic lighting for the stone arch and lily pond, which serves as a backdrop to the swimming pool.
From either side of the classical façade of the main house, a west facing Italianate terrace and balustrade provide a delightful platform for the sweeping views to the coast and a broad flight. Beneath, stone steps lead down to the gardens, and above, the covered veranda opens out onto the terrace. Dining is possible in either location. The veranda has a comfortable sitting area with plump sofas, and opens through sliding doors into a more formal internal drawing room, again with plenty of plump sofas. As with the rest of the house, it is filled with antique furniture, prints, maps and paintings.
One wing of Cockade comprises a large Master bedroom with king size bed, dressing room, bathroom and trellis-covered terrace, painted in the famous ‘Messel green’, which leads out to the delightful pool area. There is an adjoining TV room connected to cable and a mini fridge and stereo.
The other wing consists of a guest bedroom with twin beds, bathroom, study and a large, sunny, well-equipped kitchen and pantry.
In the west garden is the Pavilion, a small free-standing house with octagonal living room, sleeping alcove with twin beds (pushed together and cannot be separated), en suite marble bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The original drawings of the Pavilion are framed in the main house.
Another separate Guest Cottage at the end of the circular driveway comprises a large bedroom with a double bed and a sitting area, plus en suite marble bathroom.
All bedrooms are air-conditioned, with just the Guest Cottage and Pavilion having ceiling fans, whilst all bathrooms have tubs/showers.
Behind the cottage, there is a laundry room, staff bathroom, garage and small office for the housekeeper. Close to the back gate, there is a chattel house for the storage of garden tools and the gardener’s quarters.
Please note that although Cockade House has four bedrooms, the occupancy for rentals is limited to six persons with a maximum of seven persons by special request. |
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Beach & Swimming
Cockade House has a delightful swimming pool (36ft x 20ft with depths of 4ft6"-8ft) with surrounding terracing.
There are some excellent swimming beaches within an 8-15 minute drive, running from Paynes Bay to Sandy Lane and up towards Colony Club. A public footpath gives access to Sandy Lane beach located south of the hotel, with parking along the side of Highway 1, the road which runs along the West Coast. |
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Sports & Recreation
The Sandy Lane Golf Club, tennis courts, and dedicated spa are located within approximately 8 minutes drive from Cockade House, as are a range of water sports from Sandy Lane Hotel’s beach. There is a fitness studio at West Coast Mall approximately 7 minutes away and a few more minutes will get you to Sugar Hill for tennis. |
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Locality
Cockade House is located inland in the parish of t Thomas, near the former sugar plantation at Bennetts Plantation which is now home to the Sandy Lane’s new Golf Club and overlooks its golf course. The drive down to the West Coast takes you through the new and old golf courses of Sandy Lane and also private villas to the estate. Nearby are the residential areas of Bagatelle Terrace, Redmans Village and further along Clermont, where numerous large Barbadian homes have sprung up. The highway which runs below is the main route from St Lucy straight down to the airport, South Coast and Bridgetown. Approximately 10 minutes (depending on traffic) travelling southwards is the Warrens Complex and also the epicentre for car dealerships and an increasing number of businesses including banks and offices. Services include a large well stocked supermarket, petrol station, shops, boutiques and a fast food restaurant.
Down on the West Coast, a 7-10 minute drive will take you to the heart of St James and the nearest main shopping district which is Holetown. Here you will find the Cave Shepherd Plaza and the larger West Coast Mall. These contain a supermarket, bank, photo centre, duty free shops, video rental, and various shops and boutiques. Also close by is the Chattel House Village, a series of traditional-looking Caribbean cabins selling souvenirs, the 24 hour Sandy Crest Medical Centre, and a market stall where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables. The town also has a gas station (as petrol stations are known locally) which has an in-store mini-mart and an outlet of KFC, both open until late evening. Holetown, the place where the English first landed in 1625, later settling it in 1627, is also a local Barbadian community, with Police Station, Post Office, Parish Church, bank, pharmacy, clinic, fitness centre, school and so on.
There is a host of restaurants within 15 minutes drive along the main West Coast Road in either direction from Cockade House. You might consider the famous Cliff Restaurant, about ten minutes away to the south - also look out for Scarlet, Daphne’s and Calabaza in this direction. Heading north beyond Holetown you could try celeb favourite the Lone Star, about 15 minutes north, or the Fish Pot. There are any number of restaurants in Holetown itself, including The Mews, Café Indigo, Olive’s and The Tides as well as an excellent patisserie, Flindt’s and several pizza parlours, cafés, a beach bar and some fast food outlets. There is also good nightlife in Holetown with lively weekend gatherings in 1st and 2nd Street, where the restaurants and bars stand shoulder to shoulder, with some providing live music. Drinkers tend to spill out into the street to mingle, creating an easy-going ‘street party’ type of atmosphere. The current ‘hot spots’ are The Mews, The Elbow Room, Spago’s and Lexy’s. |
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Useful Hints
Ask your travel organiser or the management company (if booking direct) for initial food and drink supplies to be laid in for your arrival. The cook will then prepare a welcome meal. Thereafter, staff will shop for you during your stay if you wish to delegate this chore. A 15% service charge plus VAT will be levied on the value of all shopping bills. Prepayment for your provisional groceries should be made when sending the final balance for the villa. Please see here for Bajan Services general grocery pack list with approximate prices.
Miscellaneous items such as airport transfers, extra beds and baby equipment are also payable in advance (see here for a price list). In the event that Bajan Services can only provide an estimated cost for customized shopping lists, or where the final payment for your villa has been made prior to other requests, you will be required to complete a credit card authorization form.
Please note that rental rates for villas in Barbados do not include ‘tips’ about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa. |
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Rates
| | 15 Apr-14 Dec 2007 | 15 Dec-14 Apr 2007-08 | 15 Apr-14 Dec 2008 | | Cockade House 4 bedrooms* 3 bedrooms 2 bedrooms | On request 650 550 | On request 1,300 1,100 | On request 650 550 | Rates are quoted in US$ per night and are subject to 7.5% VAT . Minimum stay 7 nights. *Maximum occupancy 7 persons on request only. All rates are subject to change without notice. Separate rates apply for the Christmas & New Year period - prices on request. |
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How to Book
If you wish to book direct, reservations should be made through the local managing agents, Bajan Services Ltd. You will need to send a deposit of 25% of the total rental fee (50% for Christmas/New Year bookings) to confirm a reservation. Payment of the remaining 75% is required 30 days prior your arrival, as is payment for groceries, transfers and baby equipment. If you are booking within 30 days of your arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. You may contact Bajan Services by using the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. For a review of Bajan Services Ltd and details of their services please see here. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
If you are booking direct ask the villa management company to send a taxi to meet you at the airport. Your airport transfers take approximately 40 minutes and should be paid for in advance with the final payment for your villa. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include limousine transfers, a Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours.
If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking. |
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Getting Around
Due to its location, a hire car is pretty much essential and anyway is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays, unless you prefer the staff to call taxis for you as required. A car will be useful if you want to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing, and particularly when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with Stoutes Car Rentals and ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property approximately three hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Barbados or, if preferred, the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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