Charlotteville
Encyclopedia
Charlotteville is a village lying on the north-eastern tip of Tobago
on Man-o-war Bay.
First European settlers to the area arrived 1633, with more settlers arrived in 1639. The history of the village is closely linked to sugar farming, and Charlotteville's deep water harbour was also of importance for the town's development. In more recent times fishing has been important for Charlotteville's economy.
Charlotteville has one of the few remaining tamboo bamboo bands in which rhythms are produced by banging bamboo
on the ground. This originated in slavery
times when slaves were not allowed to play musical instruments. Today a saxophone
player is in the band.
There are a few small restaurants. There are no large hotels; there are only a few small guesthouses and apartments to rent. There is a beach in the village and Pirate's Bay is 20 minutes walk along a track.
Hidden at the other side of the village is Pirates Bay, also known as "Little Italy" for its popularity in playing football.
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
on Man-o-war Bay.
First European settlers to the area arrived 1633, with more settlers arrived in 1639. The history of the village is closely linked to sugar farming, and Charlotteville's deep water harbour was also of importance for the town's development. In more recent times fishing has been important for Charlotteville's economy.
Charlotteville has one of the few remaining tamboo bamboo bands in which rhythms are produced by banging bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
on the ground. This originated in slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
times when slaves were not allowed to play musical instruments. Today a saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player is in the band.
There are a few small restaurants. There are no large hotels; there are only a few small guesthouses and apartments to rent. There is a beach in the village and Pirate's Bay is 20 minutes walk along a track.
Hidden at the other side of the village is Pirates Bay, also known as "Little Italy" for its popularity in playing football.