Bunce Island has a fascinating and rather chilling history. Today the island is deserted but in 1670 a castle was built there by a British slave trading company which became a hub for the slave trade. People from the west coast of Africa were kidnapped and shipped as slaves – mostly to the USA.
The southern states specifically required slaves to work in the rice fields and the locals from the coast had extensive knowledge of the crop so they were especially valued.
Tens of thousands were shipped from Bunce Island during its years of operation. The slave trade was abolished in 1807 and the island had short spells of habitation in the form of a trading post, a sawmill and a plantation but soon it was abandoned yet again – in 1840.
Since that time its castle, slave houses, administration buildings and prisons have crumbled and decayed.
WHERE IS BUNCE ISLAND?
Bunce Island
ARTICLE BY:
Jackie
JJ is originally from the UK and has lived in South Florida since 1994. She is the founder and editor of JAQUO Magazine. You can connect with her using the social media icons below.