Estate Castle Burk

Castle Burk is estate 32 in St. Croix’s Prince’s Quarter. Based on appearances on historic maps, the windmill was likely built in the 1760s. The windmill was likely demolished to make room for new construction. The estate was likely named for one of the early owners, Theob. Bourke. Field reconnaissance failed to locate ruins identifiable as a windmill.

The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 32. By 1754, the Beck map printings add an animal mill. Starting in 1766, most annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck added sails to depict a windmill in estate 32.

The 1799 Oxholm map shows a windmill at Castle Burk. The 1856 Parsons map depicts a windmill with a large cluster of structures.

The 20th century topographic maps depict no structures identifiable as a windmill. No evidence of this windmill has been found through field reconnaissance.

Ownership in 1750 attributed to Plern Will Shaffer transitions to Theob. Bourke by 1766. By 1790, ownership transitioned to William & Samuel Newton.

McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (p.51) makes the connection between Theob. Bourk and the estate name Castle Burk. Also notes the century later combination with River Estate and Newton’s Estate. A Newton owned Castle Burk and River in the 1790s.

Historic Maps of Castle Burk

Snippets of the U.S. Geological Service topographic maps of 1958 & 1982 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
The 1958 and 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map show no indication of ruins at Castle Burk.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
The 1921 USCGS topographic sheet shows no ruins identifiable as a windmill at Castle Burke.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
The 1907 map identifies an estate at Castle Burke.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts a windmill with a large cluster of structures to the west at Castle Burke. All structures sit to the southeast of the stream.
Snippets of the Oxholm map of 1799 and the copy by Lang of 1820 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
Oxholm’s 1799 map and the 1820 revision show a windmill at Castle Burk. The windmill sits at the end of two rows of trees stretching north from the road, just east of the stream.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill at Castle Burk. The windmill sits at the end of two rows of trees stretching north from the road, just east of the stream.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to William & Samuel Newton.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
Küffner’s 1767 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a sugar mill and attributes ownership to Bourke in the area of Castle Burk.
Snippets of all 5 annotated Beck maps plus the 2 manuscript copies made from 1766 to 1770 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
The annotated Beck maps and manuscript copies of Beck converted the animal mill from the printed map into a windmill in estate 32, with no change from the animal mill seen in the 1770 annotated map that only added landowner names and the 1767 annotated map. On the 1770 annotated map, the name underlined in red indicates sugar cultivated here. All the maps attribute ownership to Theob. Bourke, with some spelling variation.
Snippets of both Beck maps printed in 1754 & circa 1757 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
Both Beck printings show an animal mill to the east of the stream in estate 32.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring Prince's Quarter estate # 32, currently named Castle Burk.
The 1750 map by Cronenberg and von Jægersberg indicates sugar cultivation and structures but no animal mill in estate 32. Ownership attributed to Plern Will Shaffer.