Bermuda - Touring Smith's Parish
From Hamilton, take a number 1 bus going to St. George’s or Grotto Bay – there’s one leaving every 30 minutes from 6:45 am onward, Monday through Friday, from 8:15 am on Saturday, and every hour from 11 am on Sunday. Ask to be dropped off at the junction of Collector’s Hill and Sayle Road in Smith’s Parish.
Smith’s has a long and interesting history dating back to the
early 17th century. It’s home to the islands’ largest and most
diverse nature reserve, and a unique aquarium. Hikers and
nature lovers will feel right at home here. The photo is Flatts Village.
Stop 17, The Verdmont Museum, 441-236-7369, is close to the junction of Collector’s Hill and Sayle Road. It’s the finest historic house on the island. Thought to have been built Touring Devonshire in 1710 by ship owner John Dickinson, the house very much resembles an English country manor in the classic style, with four large chimneys above an unusual roof. Over the years a number of interesting people have called this their home.
The interior of the house is filled with the memorabilia of
Bermudian history covering more than 250 years. The early
family portraits were painted by John Green, an American
loyalist refugee who fled to Bermuda from Philadelphia at
the close of the War of Independence. Green married one of
John Dickinson’s granddaughters and soon became a prominent
member of the islands’ political community, being appointed
a judge of the Court of the Vice Admiralty. The last
private owner of the property was a somewhat eccentric old
lady who lived out her
lifetime, some 75 years,
surrounded by memories.
When she died, her
family sold the old
house to the Bermuda
Historic Monuments
Trust, now the Bermuda
National Trust, who
opened it to the public in
1956.
None of the furniture
you see here belonged to
the original owners of
the house – only the family portraits by John Green. Even so,
the furniture that does fill the house provides a cross-section
of Bermudian and English styles over the 18th and 19th centuries.
The handmade cedar staircase is unique; the newels
have removable caps to accommodate candles. The upstairs
nursery is filled with antique toys, and one has only to blink
and look around to imagine small children at play dressed in
the bright clothing of a bygone age.
Other items of interest at Verdmont include the two 19th century
pianos and a fine china tea service, thought to have
been a gift from the Emperor Napoleon to President Madison.
Unfortunately for Madison, the ship carrying it from France
was set upon by privateers and the service was seized and
ended up here in Bermuda. V
Verdmont is open every day (except Sunday) from April through October. Hours are from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm; 10 am until 4 pm, November through March. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, and $1 for children and students with ID.
From Verdmont you can either catch the bus going east to St. George’s or Grotto Bay, or you can hike down Collector’s Hill to South Shore Road. If you walk, turn left on South Shore Road and go eastward for a mile to Spittal Pond, Stop 18 on your tour.
Know Before You Go!