Plymouth’s historical connections range from Fort James to a monument to Latvian ancestors and a grave dating from 1783. To help plan your trip, you can first decide whether local history will be the main focus or whether a specific date for the Carib Great Race will determine your plans.
Historical Places of Remembrance in Plymouth
Fort James was besieged by enslaved people who rose up in the 18th century and was destroyed by the French. The Mystery Tombstone is the grave of Betty Stiven and her unborn child; it was erected in 1783. The two sites represent different historical themes: Fort James represents siege and destruction, while the grave commemorates the fate of Betty Stiven and her unborn child.
The Courland Monument in Plymouth honours the ancestors of the Latvians who settled Tobago centuries ago. Latvians still occasionally visit the monument to honour their history and connection to Tobago. This connection links a Plymouth place of remembrance with Tobago’s history. The three historical themes are therefore distinctly different: fort history, a grave, and the commemoration of Latvian ancestors.
The Carib Great Race and Trip Planning
The Carib Great Race is one of the longest-running offshore powerboat races in the world. Its route starts in the Gulf of Paria in Trinidad, follows Tobago’s west coast to Plymouth, and then heads south to the finish at Store Bay. Plymouth lies along the route described. If you are planning your trip around the race, check the specific event date before booking accommodation. This makes it easy to distinguish between a stay focused on history and plans based on the race date.
More Things to Discover on Tobago
Tobago’s cocoa industry was revived in 2005 through the initiative of young Tobagonian and sommelier Duane Dove. The Tobago Cocoa Estate is located in the green hills of Roxborough, overlooking the Atlantic. A cocoa variety known as “fine” or “flavour” cocoa is grown there and used to make chocolate. This stop connects a historical development on the island with the cultivation of a cocoa variety.
Another local practice is “pulling seine”: in Tobago’s fishing communities, groups use this method to haul the day’s catch ashore. The tradition is also known as the “tradition of lending hands”. The Tobago Harvest Festival began as a religious harvest thanksgiving for the produce of the island’s villages. The programme described includes a morning service to bless the food and an afternoon concert featuring sketches, poems, and a cantata by the village choir.
Buccoo Historical Park is a historic nature park on Golden Grove Estate in Buccoo. Its remains include two watermills, a copra-drying area, and an old cocoa building. For travel between the islands, the Trinidad and Tobago Inter-Island Ferry Service operates daily ferry services between Trinidad and Tobago. As schedules are subject to change, check the timetable before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Black-Rock, Carnbee, Les Coteaux, Bon Accord Village, Arnos Vale, Buccoo, Bethel, Lowlands.
Go to the main travel overview: Western Tobago.
