Romney Manor
By Katherine Verano in Adventure
Romney Manor is home to great botanical gardens rivaled by few anywhere.
The ruins of this somewhat restored house (reputedly once the property of Thomas Jefferson) and surrounding cottages are set on six acres of glorious gardens, with exotic flowers, an old bell tower, and an enormous, gnarled 350-year-old saman tree. For visitors who want to explore parts of the rainforest, guides are available to help determine the best trails as well as share information about the ecological diversity of St. Kitts.
Romney Manor also is home to one of St. Kitts’ most celebrated local businesses– Caribelle Batik. Using the traditional Indonesian method of treating fabric with wax to resist dye, the artisans of Caribelle Batik have been creating their apparel and tapestries for more than 30 years. Visitors can watch the artists at work and learn the technique during hands-on demonstrations.