Cheshire Hall Plantation

The Basics

Cheshire Hall used to span 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares), with hundreds of enslaved people working in fields growing sisal and sea island cotton. You can explore the grounds of the plantation via stone-lined trails, which lead to the historic Great House, cistern, well, and a modern reproduction of a slave cabin.

There’s also plenty of local flora such as guinea grass, cow bush, and torchwood trees. You can visit the plantation as part of a guided island tour that typically includes stops at a massive, natural limestone swimming hole and Taylor Bay Beach.

Things to Know Before You Go

• A small admission fee is required and includes a 30-minute tour; only cash is accepted on site.

• Trail signs also denote native plants like guinea grass and cow bush.

• Wear comfortable shoes to explore the ruins.

• Access for wheelchair users is limited.

How to Get There

Cheshire Hall is located atop a hill overlooking the east coast of Providenciales, less than 2 miles (3.5 kilometers) from the airport and about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the city’s port. Drive or take a taxi to the plantation. It’s on the same side of the Leeward Highway as Cheshire Hall Medical Centre; there’s a dirt road that leads to the plantation site. Most guided tours provide round-trip transportation from local hotels.

When to get there

Consider visiting the plantation early in the morning to avoid the midday sun, since there is little shade here. Site tours generally run twice a day, in the morning and again after lunch. The site is open Monday through Saturday. December through February is considered peak season in Turks and Caicos, thanks to warm temperatures and lower rainfall levels, so expect the largest crowds then.

Exploring the history of Providenciales

Like the rest of the Turks and Caicos archipelago, Providenciales has a complicated, wide-ranging history—from its first recorded living inhabitants (the Lucayan people) to the Loyalist plantation era to its current-day position as a thriving tourist destination. The National Museum site on Providenciales hosts a small collection of outdoor exhibits, including a reproduction of a late 1800s to early 1900s home.