The Bitter Cauldron

Tragic Molten Memories: The Iron Trains of Sugar's Past



Barbados Sugar Wealth. Sugarcane growing started in Barbados in the early 1640s, when the Dutch introduced sugar cane harvesting. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had actually become one of the most affluent colonies in the British Empire, making the label "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next:

The Dangerous Labour Of Sugar

In the glare of Barbados' sun-soaked coasts and lively greenery lies a darker tale of durability and challenge-- the harmful labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the big cast iron boiling pots, necessary tools in the sugar production procedure, but also harrowing signs of the gruelling conditions faced by enslaved Africans.

Boiling Sugar: A Lealthal Task

Sugar production in the 17th and 18th centuries was  a perilous procedure. After gathering and crushing the sugarcane, its juice was boiled in huge cast iron kettles until it turned into sugar. These pots, frequently arranged in a series called a"" train"" were warmed by blazing fires that workers needed to stoke continuously. The heat was suffocating, , and the work unrelenting. Enslaved employees sustained long hours, often standing close to the inferno, running the risk of burns and fatigue. Splashes of the boiling liquid were not unusual and could trigger extreme, even fatal, injuries.







By acknowledging the unsafe labour of enslaved Africans, we honour their contributions and sacrifices. Barbados" sugar industry, built on their backs, shaped the island's history and economy. As we admire the antiques of this era, we need to also keep in mind individuals whose labour and durability made it possible. Their story is an essential part of understanding not simply the history of Barbados but the broader history of the Caribbean and the international effect of the sugar trade.



If you come across kettle in a peaceful garden or museum, remember that it is more than an ornamental piece. It is a reminder of the the slaves who tended the boiling pots, the lives that withstood, and the strength that continues to inspire.


HISTORICAL RECORDS!


Abolitionist Expose the Hazards of Sugar Plantations

James Ramsay and other abolitionists brought attention to the gruesome conditions in Caribbean sugar plantations. The boiling home, filled with open barrels of scalding sugar, was a website of suffering, injury, and even death for enslaved workers.



Molten Memories: The Iron Pots of Sugar - Visit the link for More

The Iron Heart of Barbados' Sugar