The Grenada Sugar Factory Ltd., Woodlands

History

We the makers of Clarke's Court rum have been in operations since 1937. We are the largest best-known distillers in Grenada. The factory is situated in the southern part of the island, Woodlands Valley, which is in the parish of St George's. Clarke's Court rum derived its name from Clarke's Court Bay in Woodlands, which are some minutes away from the factory.

It is suggested that the name Clarke's Court originates from two sources. It is believed that the name "Court" came from the Dutch Colonists that came to Grenada in 1670's and attacked the town, ceasing some lands and the Bay in Woodlands, naming it "Court Bay." The French later on recaptured these lands.

In 1763 to around 1801, Gedney Clarke Esq., bought parcels of land from the French, totaling 780 acres known to us now as Woodlands Estate. The land bought included Court Bay, hence from these sources; today we have the name Clarke's Court.

Further information tells us that Clarke's Court Bay was known as Watering Bay, this name came from the Carib's who were very active in this area because of the fresh water springs. A survey done in 1824 shows another change of hands of the estate to John Ross who had a total of 770 acres,which he used mostly for the growing of sugarcane.

Before the name Clarke's Court was established, our rums were formerly known as Tradewinds and Red Neck.

Clarke's Court was a property of 800 acres. In 1771, sugar cane was being grown on 300 acres for the 1772 crop, 37 acres for the 1773 crop, and a further 10 acres had been cleared ready for planting. Of the rest of the plantation, 293 acres consisted of woodlands, 60 acres was set aside for pasture, and the remaining 100 acres was used for food production, including 60 acres for cultivation of food by enslaved workers. The inventory lists all the enslaved workers on the plantation by name and classifies them according to their occupation on the property. Clarke's Court was home to 211 slaves at this time. Rather unusually, there were two sugar works in operation, suggesting that Gedney Clarke had purchased two separate plantations and amalgamated them. A stone windmill powered the 'Upper Works' and had all the usual buildings associated with sugar and rum production (a boiling house, a curing house, a still house, a trash house). In addition, it had a hospital (for lying-in by expectant mothers and the treatment of sick slaves), a dwelling house built for the owner (though Clarke did not reside on the island), a house for the white plantation staff, and 60 houses for the enslaved workers. The 'Lower Works' was powered by a cattle mill and had buildings for the production of sugar and rum. There was no hospital or any mention of housing for whites, but 10 further houses for the enslaved are mentioned.

In 1773, Gedney Clarke II agreed to surrender Clarke's Court to the Lascelles family in lieu of his debts. In 1772 the plantation was valued at L30,000 but two years later the valuation had risen to L41,250 (it is not clear if these are sterling figures or Grenada currency. The rise in the valuation reflects the unsustainable rise in the speculative value of colonial property; after 1774, however, the market crashed. The Lascelles retained the property until 1791 (partly because the French reoccupied the island during the War of the American Revolution), when it was sold to George Shand, a Scotsman. Shand purchased Clarke's Court in installments and was granted a mortgage by the Lascelles. The amount paid is not known. In 1795, Clarke's Court was the scene of fighting during the revolt mounted by slaves in Grenada. Shand wrote that 'Clarke's Court and a neighbouring estate were the barriers of the insurrection for above a year'. Damage to crops (a full harvest was not expected before 1799) caused Shand to fall behind in his repayments to the Lascelles. Shand was dead by 1802 and in this year a letter survives recording that the conveyance of Clarke's Court was completed, but to who is not clear.
Dr. S.D. Smith, Lecturer in History, University of York