Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station, Speightstown

Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station is across the street from Farley Hill National Park and is basically on the same premises as the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. The cost for going to Grenade Hall without going to the Wildlife Reserve is B$11.00 (about US$6.00). Payment is made at the entrance to the Wildlife Reserve, after which one goes to the entrance to Grenade Hall and shows the ticket. Grenade Hall is one of two restored signal stations in Barbados. The other, also open to the paying public, is Gun Hill Signal Station. Compared to Gun Hill, Grenade Hall feels sterile and synthetic. It seems more like a calculated attraction than a tangible piece of history. The presence of a pre-recorded audio presentation adds to the synthetic feeling, which is why I did not press the button to activate it. The forest to which the signal station is attached is a natural, organic forest with a stone path and preachy, propogandic signs added all around. The experience is like Mark Twain's description of golf: a good walk, spoiled. Environmentally-PC types who enjoy being preached to will probably like it. History buffs are advised to go to Gun Hill Signal Station instead. Gun Hill costs one Bajan dollar less and feels much better.