ABSOLUTE PROPERTIES ANTIGUA

For Rent: Seasonal Rates from US$1,500 Nightly

A calm beauty surrounds you as you step back approximately 350 years upon entering Antigua’s last true remaining sugar plantation; Mercers Creek.

Steeped in a rich history, you cannot help but feel overcome by its beauty, charm and elegance. It is blissfully private and isolated from the rest of Antigua, yet only a short drive from all amenities and activities Antigua has to offer, a little lost treasure, hidden amongst its 26 acres, which has preserved this private unspoilt regal residence, for all these centuries.

Originally built for the Duke of Grafton (the illegitimate son of Charles II), on his instruction in the shape of his ship, from solid shell white stone from the Cotswolds, brought in on Galleons which then plied the trade route between the West Indies and Great Britain. In fact when you stand in the terrace and look out to bay you can almost imagine the wind whistling through the rigging of the Galleons at anchor in Belfast Bay.

Mercers Creek is complete with most of its original features, objects and furniture from a bygone era and is surrounded by an abundance of indigenous palm trees and an avenue of Mahogany trees, filled with bird song. You would be for­given for mis­tak­ing Mercer’s Creek for a metic­u­lously cre­ated museum. It is in fact a wholly authen­tic relic, barely untouched from its centuries-​old heyday and of course the prestigious honour of being Antigua’s only remain­ing sug­ar­cane plan­ta­tion.

The house is a cool sanctuary with a fresh sea breeze from the ever reliable Antiguan sunshine.

Plantation houses were normally always built on an elevated position, primarily as they could all see each other for security reasons, but also to benefit from the cooling winds.  Mercers Creek sits squarely with a commanding view over the sea Guana Island, and in its own creek, which is where its name comes from. The sea front is only a few hundred meters, though I think we should say yards away.

The original sugar mill is still almost complete though without its running gear or sail, taken no doubt by many hurricanes past.

The magnificent classical drawing room could be straight from Downtown Abbey; though perhaps a lot quirkier, with an abundance of splen­did paint­ings, antique and a 1930s bar set into the wall. This leads off to a sumptuous dining room still lit by candle light alone and the elegant entrance hall.   All sealed in a time warp.

This main floor also has houses the master bed­room and second bedroom offering four posters beds and both with en-​suites, a sep­a­rate guest wash­room, and a pretty veranda over­look­ing the hidden gardens

The square com­pact kitchen, with mod­ern appli­ances and scenic views on both sides, was a later addi­tion. It backs onto the orig­i­nal cook­house which would have been a detached struc­ture in its day, due to the preva­lence of fires, and still con­tains the orig­i­nal char­coal burner and cupboards.

Down­stairs are two more bed­rooms and bathrooms includ­ing the second mas­ter suite which boasts three-​foot thick stone walls and would have been used as a refuge from pirates and hur­ri­canes alike. There is also a twin bedroom and separate TV room­. All four bed­rooms are air-​conditioned and feature four poster beds.

The large swimming pool and deck also offer a pool house and bar with fridges and coolers, glasses and blender. Perfect to keep you cool on you long lazy days in the sun.

Maid service is included six times per week and a private chef and driver is offered if required.

Rates

May – October US$$1,500.00 per night

October – April US$$1,750.00 per night

Christmas & New Year US$$2,000.00 per night

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