If you continue heading west (along the left side of Foot of the Lane Park), you will come to the pillars and entrance to Waterville. This is headquarters for the Bermuda National Trust. The land on which Waterville is built originally belonged to Lord Paget of England (for whom Paget Parish named). When the Virginia Company failed, it was gradually acquired by the Trimingham family, and by the late 1600s their property stretched the width of the island, from Hamilton harbour to the South Shore. John Trimingham II built Waterville c. 1725 on the harbour end of the property. In the 17 and 1800s, Trimingham ships were built and docked here; the entire ground floor of the house was used for cargo storage and shipping equipment and the upper floor was living quarters. In 1842 James Harvey Trimingham opened the first Trimingham store in Waterville, selling everything from boots to bonnets. By 1956 Waterville had been converted into an exclusive guest house run by Mrs. Ada (Fred) Trimingham, who well known guests included literary giants E. B. White and James Thurber. By the early 1970s most interior changes had taken place; an apartment and the National Trust offices now occupied the ground floor, and the upper apartment was the home of Elsie Gosling of the Trimingham family, who lived there until her death in November 1990 at the age of 93. Thus, Waterville had been lived in by 7 generations of this prominent Bermudian family, before the National Trust took possession of the entire building at the time of Miss Goslings death. The landscape of Waterville has been altered by succeeding generations of Triminghams, and the National Trust continues to enhance the area for the pleasure of visitors who enjoy the quiet garden and park setting. The Rose Garden to the west of the house was established in 1988 and is maintained by the Bermuda Rose Society. The Gardens centre piece, a gift from long time Bermuda resident Mrs. Kitty Mount, is a statue of the nymph Daphne by American master sculptress Barbara Lekberg; the east lawn, with its elegant gazebo, is the Mary-Jean Mitchell green Memorial Garden. The additional property along Pomander Road called Waterville Park was gifted to the Trust in 1983 by Messrs. deForst and Fenton Trimingham. There was a beautiful Tamarind tree in the rose garden, but as with many stories on our Island, it succumbed to Hurricane Fabian on September 5, 2003. As you walk through the narrow pathway to enter into the gardens, pause just before the Gazebo and you will see a small pet cemetery. Many beloved animals roamed these grounds. The Gazebo still standing has suffered damage at the top from Hurricane Gonzalo.... but none-the-less offers a peaceful setting .... If you wish to visit the rose garden, we suggest you take a left at the house (past the front entrance) but our path as we were headed to Pomander Road took us to the right, along the waterside. You are going to come to one of the most peaceful resting spots... a simple bench that offers calm water views of boats and intricate mangrove trees. If you can make this walk at sunset, it is gorgeous as the water turns pink and orange, bouncing off the white boats and deep red buoys. Continue along the path following the small parking area to your right and walk through to their new Waterville Park... its just a small area that winds through the dark Mangroves, but well worth it, as you are offered the most beautiful views of Hamilton and the harbour. We dont think they could cram one more boat in this small bay if they tried !! This walk will only take about half an hour and is well worth getting off your route to do so. On saying this however, if you are going to amble through the grounds, we suggest a visit inside. The main reception rooms are open to the public and are mainly furnished with Trimingham family herlooms, specifically bequeathed for use in the house. Several of the older pieces illustrate how the struggling residents of this tiny, isolated island did not throw out the old, as it was not always easy to acquire the new - they re-designed, re-modeled and re-used. Later, pieces of imported mahogany with satinwood and rosewood inlay, attest to the Triminghams growing success as merchant traders. Waterville is open to visitors Monday - Friday from 9a.m. - 5 p.m. Email: [email protected] Web: bnt.bm
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:28:49 +0000
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