Renovations at Anguilla’s historic Wallblake House are scheduled to begin this December and continue into the first quarter of 2024, the infrastructure minister has said.
Speaking during a government press conference on 2 December, Haydn Hughes said there was a delay to scheduled work at the heritage building due to the procurement process.
“I know a lot of persons may be saying it’s long overdue, but we have a particular bit of legislation called procurement,” he said.
“Sometimes because of procurement and failed procurements, a number of things are delayed, sometimes weeks, sometimes months.”
The stone and hardwood house in The Valley, built in 1787, is one of Anguilla’s oldest buildings. It was originally part of a plantation that grew sugar cane, and later cotton.
The site, which includes several buildings including the main building, slave quarters, the kitchen, the stable and a mill used to grind cane, was partly destroyed by fire in 1796.
It was later rebuilt and was fully restored by 2004.
In October, 2023, the government issued a invite for expression of interest for the operation of an eatery at Wallblake House.
Then in December, 2023, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communication, Utilities, Housing and Tourism held a consultation on the addition of a dedicated arts and crafts section to the property.
Kenn Banks of the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society presented an online guide to Wallblake House on 21 May.
“It would have been a very important part of Anguilla’s industry in the late 1700s and early 1800s,” he said.
