Estate Sprat Hall

Sprat Hall is estate 12-13 in St. Croix’s Northside A Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the late 18th century. Sprat Hall was likely named for the near shore Sprat Hole for the fish found there in the past. The windmill is in good condition.

Sprat Hall extends from the shore through a part of estate 13 on St. Croix’s west coast. The 1750 map indicates cultivation of provisions by van der Pool. While neither Beck printing in the 1750s indicates sugar manufacturing icons, the 1766 and 1767 annotated and manuscript copies of Beck all include an animal mill.

The 1799 Oxholm map indicates a windmill a short distance from the coast with a structure to the west, as does the 1856 Parsons map. Each of the 20th-century topographic maps echo the configuration of the structures.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.182) measures the Sprat Hall Mill 270 yards east of the coast and suggests the name from a small food fish sprat.

Ownership of estates 12 by William Roger and 13 by Jeremiah Smith appears consistently on the annotated and manuscript copies of Beck. However, the shoreline strip varies on maps between William Dalton in 1766 to Charles Daly in 1767, and Harmon in 1770. By 1790, ownership of estates 12 and 13 transitioned to G. Gordon, including the shoreline strip.

Historic Maps of Sprat Hall

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1982 featuring Northside A quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
The 1982 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill at Sprat Hall.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958 featuring Northside A quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows ruins identifiable as a windmill at Sprat Hall.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
The 1920 USCGS topographic map shows the Sprat Hall Mill with other structures to the west.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill at Sprat Hall.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill and other structures to the west and west at Sprat Hall.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and its 1820 revision show a windmill with a structure to the west and a battery on the shoreline to the northwest at Sprat hole.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Northside A quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill with a structure to the west and a battery on the shoreline to the northwest at Sprat hole.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen, respectively, attribute ownership to G. Gordon.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of Frederiksted from 1778 featuring Northside A Quarter estate # 12, currently named Sprat Hall.
A portion of the Sprat Hall estate with an animal mill and several other structures plus a village to the south on Oxholm’s 1778 map of Frederiksted. Note that north is to the right on this image. Ownership attributed to John Gordon.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a settlement in the area of Sprat Hall.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
The 1766, 1767 annotated and both manuscript copies of the Beck map have a hand-drawn animal mill in estate 12, while the c.1767 and 1770 annotated copies do not. All attribute ownership of estate 12 to William Roger with ownership of estate 13 to Jeremias Smith or Richard Buntin. The ownership of the shoreline strip varies on maps between William Dalton in 1766 to Charles Daly in 1767, and Harmon in 1770.
Snippet of c1754 Beck map printing featuring Northside A quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
Neither of the Beck printings depict any sugar machinery.
Snippet of 1754 Beck map featuring Northside A quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
Neither of the Beck printings depict any sugar machinery.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Northside A Quarter estates # 12-13, currently named Sprat Hall.
The 1750 map indicates provision cultivation with the stippling and attributes ownership to Van Der Pool.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring Northside A Quarter, currently named Sprat Hall.
During the French period, no settlement indicated near Sprat Hall. The seaward feature is named Anse de la Pointe Rouge, or Red Point Cove.