Ruins of Wade's Green Plantation, North Caicos.
Wade’s Green is the best-preserved historical plantation ruins in the Turks and Caicos Islands and is a fascinating site to see when visiting North Caicos. We recommend that you visit Wade’s Green if you have the time.
History
Wade’s Green was established as a cotton plantation by loyalist Wade Stubbs in 1789. The land was granted to Wade Stubbs by the then reigning monarch of Britain, King George III, as compensation for losses incurred during the American War of Independence.
During the plantation era, slavery was legal in British territories and many of the plantations in the British West Indies were worked by slave labor, and Wade’s Green was no exception. Records show that the first slaves in the Turks and Caicos were African slaves brought over from Bermuda in the later 1700s, and that the majority of subsequent slaves came with British Loyalists from America after the revolution. In 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act was made law by the British Parliament and slavery became illegal in most British territories, including the British West Indies. The descendants of these slaves make up the core of the native Turks and Caicos Islanders.
The trail leading to Wade's Green Plantation, North Caicos.
Wade Stubbs went on to become probably the most successful planter in Turks and Caicos history and at his death in 1822, he owned 384 slaves and over eight thousand acres over the Caicos Islands, including Wade’s Green on North Caicos, Haulover Plantation on Middle Caicos, and Cheshire Hall on Providenciales.
Many buildings made up Wade’s Green Plantation, including the Great House, the kitchen, the overseer’s house, slave quarters and storage buildings.
The plantation era in the Turks and Caicos started to come to an end in the 1820s due to soil degradation, plant diseases and insects, and changes in the world markets. Agriculture had ceased to be the main supporting industry of the Caicos Islands.
The Current Site
Up until the last decade, Wade’s Green was mostly reclaimed by the surrounding vegetation and only the main buildings were accessible. As the number of tourists to North Caicos increased, the plantation grounds received some much needed attention. Currently, Wade’s Green is much more visitor-friendly, with unpaved paths leading through the ruins, and tiled plaques identifying many of the buildings.
Ruins of the Great House.
The grounds around Wade’s Green will also be of interest to natural historians. Examples of some of the plants traditionally grown in the Turks and Caicos can be seen along the paths, including cotton, sisal and papaya. Yellow Crowned Night Herons, Green Herons, small lizards and the unique and harmless Caicos Dwarf Boa are also commonly spotted around Wade’s Green Plantation.
The dirt paths around the ruins are generally smooth and in good condition, but a minimum level of fitness is required as the car parking area is a quarter of a mile from the ruins.
The Great House at Wade’s Green has some modern wood access steps and walkway. These fixtures are in disrepair and caution should be taken around them.
Mosquitos can be bad at times, so consider bug repellent and long sleeves.
Ruins at Wade's Green Plantation, North Caicos.
Visitor Information
Due to the limited number of visitors to Wade’s Green, regular daily operating hours are not kept. The usual opening times are 8:00AM to 10:00AM and 1:30PM to 3:30PM, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but the site will be opened at other times if you call ahead to the TCI National Trust or one of the local tour guides.
Tickets and a printed guide are available for purchase at the TCI National Trust office nearby in the village of Kew. The current ticket price is five dollars per person. Typical visits to Wade’s Green Plantation take one to two hours.
No restrooms, shop, or office is onsite.
M and M Tours
Taxi and tour service.
(649) 231-6285 or (649) 341-6025
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