The Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill is the last of the many Barbadian windmills once used to produce sugar, and one of only two functioning sugar windmills in the world. Barbados, a British colony for much of its modern history, became one of the largest producers of sugar in the late 17th century, when sugar replaced tobacco as the primary commercial export. (...)
The Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill is the last of the many Barbadian windmills once used to produce sugar, and one of only two functioning sugar windmills in the world. Barbados, a British colony for much of its modern history, became one of the largest producers of sugar in the late 17th century, when sugar replaced tobacco as the primary commercial export. For over a century, a sugar-based economy sustained by slavery was the backbone of the economy. Today, though slavery ended long ago and the country has been independent since 1966, sugar remains an important export commodity for the country. The Morgan Lewis Mill ceased grinding sugarcane for commercial purposes in 1947 and was subsequently given to the Barbados National Trust for use as a museum and as a symbol of the economic and social history of the island. The mill slowly decayed in the 20th century, however, prompting its placement on the inaugural Watch in 1996.
