Dieppe Bay Town
Encyclopedia
Dieppe Bay Town is a town in Saint John Capesterre Parish in the island of Saint Kitts
, in the country of Saint Kitts and Nevis
in the West Indies. Settled in 1538, it is the oldest town founded by Europeans
in the whole of the Eastern Caribbean. The original town only survived a few weeks before it was destroyed by the Spanish, but it was re-founded in 1625 by French settlers led by Pierre D'Esnambuc.
Dieppe Bay Town is the co-capital of St. John Capesterre Parish along with Saddlers
. Originally the northern part of the parish was ruled by France
, in the region of "Capisterre
de St. Christophe", of which Dieppe was the capital. The southern part of the parish was ruled by the United Kingdom
, in "British Saint Christopher", which had its parish capital in Saddlers. When Britain took full control of the island in 1713, both capitals remained.
The town was once home to a busy port, situated along the harbour at Dieppe. The harbour was renowned on the island due to the large coral reef
formations offshore which gave it strong protection against the heavy waves which tended to prevented Atlantic coast development elsewhere. The port however, saw its functions cease after all business was shifted to Basseterre
after Basseterre was made the capital of St. Kitts in 1723.
Dieppe Bay is currently a very small settlement with a very small population, however its historical significance to St. Kitts, and its former status as capital of the Capisterre region has allowed it to earn the status of "town". It is the fifth town of Saint Kitts after Basseterre, Sandy Point
, Cayon
, and Old Road
.
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
, in the country of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
in the West Indies. Settled in 1538, it is the oldest town founded by Europeans
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in the whole of the Eastern Caribbean. The original town only survived a few weeks before it was destroyed by the Spanish, but it was re-founded in 1625 by French settlers led by Pierre D'Esnambuc.
Dieppe Bay Town is the co-capital of St. John Capesterre Parish along with Saddlers
Saddlers, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saddlers is a town in Saint John Capesterre Parish, Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the co-capital of the parish along with Dieppe Bay Town; originally the parish was partly ruled by France and partly by the United Kingdom. When Britain took full control of the island in 1713, both capitals remained.A...
. Originally the northern part of the parish was ruled by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in the region of "Capisterre
Capisterre
Capisterre is a region covering the Northern Coastal plain on the Island of Saint Kitts. It was originally colonized by the French in the early 17th century, with its capital on the only harbour, in the fishing town of Dieppe. The area was lost to the British in 1713...
de St. Christophe", of which Dieppe was the capital. The southern part of the parish was ruled by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, in "British Saint Christopher", which had its parish capital in Saddlers. When Britain took full control of the island in 1713, both capitals remained.
The town was once home to a busy port, situated along the harbour at Dieppe. The harbour was renowned on the island due to the large coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
formations offshore which gave it strong protection against the heavy waves which tended to prevented Atlantic coast development elsewhere. The port however, saw its functions cease after all business was shifted to Basseterre
Basseterre
Basseterre , estimated population 15,500 in 2000, is the capital of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. Geographically, the Basseterre port is located at , on the south western coast of Saint Kitts Island, and it is one of the chief commercial depots of the Leeward Islands...
after Basseterre was made the capital of St. Kitts in 1723.
Dieppe Bay is currently a very small settlement with a very small population, however its historical significance to St. Kitts, and its former status as capital of the Capisterre region has allowed it to earn the status of "town". It is the fifth town of Saint Kitts after Basseterre, Sandy Point
Sandy Point Town
Sandy Point is the second largest town of St. Kitts. It is situated on the north-west coast of St.Kitts and is the capital of Saint Anne Sandy Point Parish....
, Cayon
Cayon
Cayon is a town on the northeast coast of Saint Kitts in the Caribbean. It is the capital of Saint Mary Cayon Parish. The 2010 estimated population was 805.Cayon is home to the campus of Windsor University School of Medicine.- References :...
, and Old Road
Old Road Town
Old Road Town is a town in Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is located on the west coast of Saint Kitts island, just to the south of Middle Island.It was settled on January 28, 1624 by Thomas Warner, his wife Rebecca, his son Edward and 14 others. The settlers were at first on good terms with the island's...
.