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Similar Drax Hall Estate, Gun Hill Signal Station, Sunbury Plantation House, Morgan Lewis Windmill, Farley Hill National Park | ||
Francia, St. George (Barbados) is an atypical but elegant historical plantation great house on a wooded hillside near to Gun Hill Signal Station, overlooking St. George valley. It was built around 1913 by a Frenchman, Rene Mourraille, who was a successful farmer in Brazil but met and married a Barbadian on a business visit and settled in Barbados.
The house combines Barbadian coral stone craftsmanship, Demerara windows, an unusual entrance portico, Brazilian wood panelling and many other attractive features. It is set in luxuriant terraced gardens and of special interest is the collection of antique West Indian maps. It is a private home but is open to visitors on weekdays.
Francia plantation house is now home to the private Providence Elementary School.