HISTORIC CHARLESTOWN
The Bath Hotel is the only designated protected area (Historic Site) established under the National Conservation and Environment Protection Act of 1987. There has been some initiative by the Tourism Department to enhance this historic (and touristic) site, specifically the spa.
A local legislation - the Nevis Zoning Plan Ordinance of 1991, establishes a Charlestown Historic Area within which, development should be carefully controlled. It is generally understood that the external appearance of any building that is of special historical or architectural interest within this area should be conserved. This is exemplified in the renovations of the Henville Building (Barclays Bank), the Main Street Grocery, and the construction of new buildings such as TDC Plaza and Hunkins Block. Further more, the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society in conjunction with the French Mission for Co-operation, have proposed to establish a Historical district in Charlestown.
The Nevis Island Administration in conjunction with the Organisation of American States drew up a plan for the development of the Hamilton Estate as a conservation facility. The proposal indicated the rehabilitation of the estate into; a museum, historic centres and a 10-acre botanical garden. This development plan was entrusted to the Hamilton Heritage Centre Board of Trustees with clear guidelines in terms of the developing the site.
New River Estate is proposed to be a multi-interpretive site focusing on agricultural, historic and natural areas.
The following sites are listed as important historic, architectural or environmental associations in the Nevis Resource Assessment and Zoning Plan 1991, however, they are not protected by any legislation:
Buildings Churches
Cotton Ginnery Zion Methodist Church, Gingerland
Henville Building Charlestown Methodist Church and Manse
Longstone Building Wesleyan Holiness Manse, Charlestown
Treasury Building St. Paul's Anglican Church and Rectory
The Parmenter/Hunkins Block Cottle Church
Williams (Main Street) Grocery St. John's Anglican Church
Slack's Complex St. George's Anglican Church
Nevis Courthouse and Library St. Thomas's Anglican Church
Bath Hotel and Spring House St. James's Anglican Church
Government House Gingerland Methodist Church and Church School
Caribbean Confection Building
Evelyn Villa Cemeteries
Hamilton House Five Anglican Church Cemeteries
The Hermitage Gingerland Methodist Cemetery
Golden Rock Mill and Factory Jew Cemetery, Charlestown
Old Manor (restored slave building) Charlestown Methodist Church Cemetery
Clay Ghaut Mill Quaker Cemetery
Nisbett Plantation Main Building Jessup's Methodist Cemetery
Charlestown Post Office Stoney Grove Cemetery
BATA Shoe Store Building Combermere Methodist Cemetery
Butlers Great House Saddle Hill Burial site
Morning Star Mill Eden Brown Burial site
Military sites
Fort Charles
Saddle Hill and Nelson Lookout
Battery at Long Point
Battery at Fort Ashby
Battery at Headland (Mosquito Bay)
Newcastle Redoubt
An inventory conducted by the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society also includes Hamilton, Eden Brown, Indian Castle, New River & Coconut Walk Estates, Newcastle Post Office, Montravers Great House, and the Sandbox Tree building (Charlestown) as important historic sites. Although this listing is not comprehensive, it should be prioritised in the preparation of a historic management plan, which would effectively control or enhance the development of these sites. Though NECPA does list some economic incentives for the restoration of listed/designated historic buildings, no buildings are formally listed in Nevis
