Inside The Historic Barbados Estate Visited By Royalty & Film Stars

A pastel pink palace lounging in the Caribbean sun – this Barbados home is what dreams are made of. And having hosted everybody from Prince Harry and Prince Edward, to Helen Mirren and Cliff Richard as guests, Lancaster Great House seems to be a firm favourite among the stars as well. 

On The Market: Inside Lancaster Great House

The History

Dating back to 1674, there’s no doubt that this 17th century plantation home has some colonial skeletons in its mahogany closets. Having once consisted of around 400 acres, the sugar plantation was originally owned by the Wilkinson family.

Though constructed during the Jacobean period, the current colonial aesthetic and graceful Georgian details were incorporated in the mid-18th century when the property served as a Government House. Changing hands over the course of many years, the estate was more recently bought up by British financier St Martyn Arbib and his wife Lady Sally Arbib who renovated and transformed the home sometime after 1999 into an art gallery, as well as a venue for dining, entertainment and events known as Lancaster Great House. Now back on the market, the current owner of the plantation is billionaire John Morphet – the entrepreneurial founder of Pure Leisure Group.

In recent generations, Lancaster Great House has hosted many glamorous gatherings, including dinners attended by members of the British Royal Family – the original dining table where Prince Harry and Prince Edward once dined still sits in the home today. 

Though we don’t know for certain when the royals made their appearance at Lancaster Great House, we do know that Prince Harry first visited Barbados in January 2010 for the inaugural Sentebale Polo charity polo match, where he fell off his horse – a feat later repeated at a South African polo match. The prince later returned to Barbados in November and early December 2016 for the 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations, and as part of a two-week, seven-country trip honouring Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. Lucky Harry was seated beside Barbados national Rhianna during the Golden Anniversary Spectacular Mega Concert at the Kensington Oval Cricket Ground in Bridgetown.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward visited Barbados in March 2011 for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association, and later visited again in February 2012 with the Countess of Wessex to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Though Barbados was still a Commonwealth realm when the royals visited, in 2021 it transitioned into a republic.

Other notable attendants of Lancaster Great House’s glamorous parties over the years include actors Cliff Richard (who used to own a property of his own in Barbados) and Helen Mirren.

Step Inside

Now comprising of two acres of lush landscaped grounds (rather than 400 acres), Lancaster Great House is bursting with centuries-old mahogany trees, royal palms, mature fruit trees, tropical gardens and more than 400 potted plants – all wrapped in the privacy of the original estate gates.

Entering down the long drive, oversized ferns fan in the soft breeze while fluorescent pink buds compete with the bright Caribbean sun. Perfectly proportioned in the symmetrical Georgian style, the pastel pink and marshmallow white facade paints a charming picture – complete with the meticulously preserved original windows, doors and shutters.

Within the grounds there is also a one-bedroom garden cottage with a loft for further living space.

Inside the main house, the four-bedroom, three-bathroom property opens up into a refined historic home, with modern upgrades subtly incorporated throughout. From the maroon red wallpapered dining room and the peachy pink marble-countered bar, to the cherub fountains and the graceful curves of the white marble statues, this historic property is brimming with antique pieces and historic touches. 

But don’t be fooled by the Mediterranean aesthetic. The sunshine yellow reception room gives this home a distinctly Caribbean carnival energy, while the bright and open terrace feels more like it belongs in a resort than a home. 

Where Is It?

Located in a quiet and private spot in the sought-after parish of St James in the Caribbean near the West Coast of Barbados, Lancaster Great House is only five minutes away from Holetown – one of Barbados’s finest beaches – as well as the vibrant lifestyle of the Platinum Coast.

On the market for $1,595,000. Find out more at onecaribbeanestates.com