Parliament Buildings (Barbados)
| The Parliament Buildings | |
|---|---|
Location within Barbados | |
| Former names | The Public Buildings |
| Alternative names | Parliament House |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Architectural style | Gothic (neo-gothic, with a local or vernacular flavour) |
| Location | Bridgetown, Barbados, Parliament Square |
| Coordinates | 13°05′49.15″N 59°36′50.11″W / 13.0969861°N 59.6139194°W |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Year built | 1870-1874 |
| Inaugurated | 16 June 1874 |
| Cost | £25 000 |
| Client | Barbadian government |
The Parliament Buildings (also known as The Public Buildings, or more rarely Parliament House), is the seat of the Parliament of Barbados. Built between 1870 and 1874, the buildings have served as the meeting place for both chambers of Parliament since 16 June 1874, and were formerly the site of the Colonial administration of Barbados. It consists of two buildings in the neo-Gothic architectural style, and is reminiscent of the Victorian era of Great Britain.
The buildings are situated along the north bank of the Constitution River and are bordered by Upper Broad Street and National Heroes Square to the south; strategically at the heart of the capital city Bridgetown. Before the establishment of the buildings, the legislature met at the Town Hall building (beside the now abandoned National Library Service of Barbados building) on Coleridge Street.
In 1989, the Public Buildings were officially renamed the Parliament Buildings by Act of Parliament. In 2011, both buildings were designated as UNESCO protected properties within the World Heritage Site of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison area.