Saint Thomas Lowland Parish
Encyclopedia
Saint Thomas Lowland is one of 5 Nevis parishes which are in turn part of the 14 administrative parishes
that make up the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
.
The coast of this parish consists primarily of sand beaches with palm trees, most notably the 3-mile long Pinney's Beach, which is often considered to be the best beach in the Federation. Behind the sandy coastline are several small lagoon
s, including the freshwater lagoon of Nelson's Spring, which is next to the village of Cotton Ground. Some of the island's most important hotel developments are located in this area, including the Four Seasons Resort Nevis
.
There are a few hills by the coast, including the small but steep hill at Cades Point, a weathered remnant of an ancient volcanic core. Further inland, many small villages and homes are located on the gently sloping landscape.
As one moves further and further east (inland) the land rises in elevation and the vegetation becomes lusher as the steeper slopes of Nevis Peak
are reached. The Nevis Peak summit is the Parish's interior land boundary.
. Other villages within the parish are Westbury, Barnes Ghaut and Jessups. There is also a small section of Craddock Road that is part of the parish, even though most of the Craddock Road community is in St. Paul's Parish.
Capital - Cotton Ground
Other Villages:
The southern end of the parish embraces the northern fringe of Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, including the Community Center (which was previously the cinema), the ruins of the Rest Haven Hotel (heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989), and the pink-painted Pinney's Beach Hotel at the southern end of Pinney's Beach.
has it that Jamestown was lost in a tidal wave
in the late 1680s, but there is no archeological evidence that would support that story. In any case the first settlement was abandoned, but St. Thomas' Church, on higher ground, remains.
Parishes of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is divided into 14 parishes. Nine parishes are located on the island of Saint Kitts and five on Nevis. The parishes are drawn like pie-slices from the ridgeline of the central mountains of both islands....
that make up the Federation 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....
.
The coast of this parish consists primarily of sand beaches with palm trees, most notably the 3-mile long Pinney's Beach, which is often considered to be the best beach in the Federation. Behind the sandy coastline are several small lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
s, including the freshwater lagoon of Nelson's Spring, which is next to the village of Cotton Ground. Some of the island's most important hotel developments are located in this area, including the Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels, Inc. is a Canadian-based international ultra-luxury, five-star hotel management company. Travel + Leisure magazine and Zagat Survey rank the hotel chain's 84 properties among the top luxury hotels worldwide...
.
There are a few hills by the coast, including the small but steep hill at Cades Point, a weathered remnant of an ancient volcanic core. Further inland, many small villages and homes are located on the gently sloping landscape.
As one moves further and further east (inland) the land rises in elevation and the vegetation becomes lusher as the steeper slopes of Nevis Peak
Nevis Peak
Nevis Peak is a potentially active volcano which is located in the centre of the island of Nevis, West Indies. The stratovolcano rises to a height of 3,232 feet, or 985 meters...
are reached. The Nevis Peak summit is the Parish's interior land boundary.
Cities and Towns
The parish capital is Cotton GroundCotton Ground
Cotton Ground is a town on the island of Nevis in Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the capital of Saint Thomas Lowland Parish....
. Other villages within the parish are Westbury, Barnes Ghaut and Jessups. There is also a small section of Craddock Road that is part of the parish, even though most of the Craddock Road community is in St. Paul's Parish.
Capital - Cotton Ground
Cotton Ground
Cotton Ground is a town on the island of Nevis in Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the capital of Saint Thomas Lowland Parish....
Other Villages:
- Barnes Ghaut
- Jessups
- Stuarts
- Westbury
The southern end of the parish embraces the northern fringe of Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, including the Community Center (which was previously the cinema), the ruins of the Rest Haven Hotel (heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989), and the pink-painted Pinney's Beach Hotel at the southern end of Pinney's Beach.
Economy
Saint Thomas Lowland parish can arguably be viewed as the heart of the Nevis economy. This is because the island's main economic sector is tourism, and this parish is home to the island's largest hotel, the Four Seasons Resort, which is the largest single employer on the island, second only to the Government. The Four Seasons golf course is considered to be the best or one of the best in the Caribbean. Several other hotel developments are also located on the coast of this parish.History
Saint Thomas was the first established Parish on Nevis, and was home to the first British settlement, Jamestown. LegendLegend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
has it that Jamestown was lost in a tidal wave
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
in the late 1680s, but there is no archeological evidence that would support that story. In any case the first settlement was abandoned, but St. Thomas' Church, on higher ground, remains.