Estate Carlton

Carlton includes estates 2 & 3 in St. Croix’s West End Quarter. One windmill ruin was converted to a dwelling at some point. Based on the inscription on the keystone of the main entrance, this windmill was likely built in 1763 by Nicolay Dunbavin. The Parsons map of 1856 indicates two closely located windmills. The indication of an old mill on the 1920s topographic map suggests another windmill may have operated here, although that indication may have been for a well tower.

The estate now known as Carlton does not appear to have been settled during the French period. The 1750 map indicates sugar cultivation on the northern half of the estate, but with no sugar machinery depicted.

The printed Beck maps of the 1750s depicted an animal mill on the northern half of the estate. On three of the annotated Beck maps and one of the manuscript copies of the 1760s, sails drawn on the animal mill indicate the construction of a windmill. One of the manuscript copy maps depicts an animal mill, attributing ownership to Nicolay Donbavins.

One of the annotated Beck maps and a manuscript copy attribute ownership to Nicolay Dunbavins’ heirs. Most of the annotated Beck maps, attribute ownership to Roger Ferrall, sometimes together with Nicholas Tuite. The 1790s manuscript copies of Beck attribute ownership to Bradshaw.

The 1799 Oxholm map and 1856 Parsons map both name the estate Carlton. Oxholm places a windmill in the north center of the estate while Parsons depicts two closely co-located windmills in a similar position.

The 1920s topographic map locates the Carlton Mill just east of the old works, consistent with findings from field reconnaissance. A second notation in the southwest corner of the estate locates an Old Mill at 47 feet elevation. The 1958 and 1982 topographic maps both locate ruins of one windmill in the north center of estate Carlton consistent with field reconnaissance.

As the McGuire geographic dictionary of the Virgin Islands (pp. 49-50) describes, sugar cane was still cultivated here in the 1920s.

Photos of Carlton, 2020s

Carlton windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the main entrance.
Carlton windmill exterior from the northwest featuring the main entrance. Given the condition of the current material around the opening plus the vegetation, getting an image of this opening presents challenges. Note the cut stone block on the facing of the windmill and going around the opening.
Carlton windmill interior facing west featuring the main entrance, bagasse, and juice trough openings.
Carlton windmill interior facing west featuring the main entrance, bagasse, and juice trough openings. The 5 foot thickness of the walls contributes to the durability of the windmills. The top of the bagasse opening, like the floor (which has been changed in this instance), slope downward to help remove crushed cane from the mill.
Carlton windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance.
Carlton windmill exterior from the west featuring the main entrance. The date inscribed on the keystone suggests construction in 1763. The letters ND above that suggest Nicolay Dunbavins, an owner of estate Carlton at the time.
Carlton windmill exterior from the southeast featuring the juice trough opening.
Carlton windmill exterior from the southeast featuring the juice trough opening. The metal gate was added as part of the conversion of the mill into a dwelling. The exterior facing of the mill in cut limestone blocks matches the material decorating the opening’s exterior.
Carlton windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the bagasse opening.
Carlton windmill exterior from the southwest featuring the bagasse opening. This opening was modified to fill in the lower portion, with clear difference in stonework. Some of the stones around both the bagasse and juice trough openings were replaced by bricks. The keystones for the main entrance to the left and the juice trough opening to the right are raised above the surrounding stonework.
Carlton windmill exterior from the east featuring the timber slots.
Carlton windmill exterior from the east featuring the timber slots. This slot was filled in with a couple of stones. Notice at the bottom the rim going around the foundation of the windmill.
Carlton windmill exterior from the northeast featuring the machine slot.
Carlton windmill exterior from the northeast featuring the machine slot. The small amount of masonry above the top of the opening suggests that the upper portion of the mill collapsed and was removed when the mill was converted to a dwelling. The pipe projecting downward from the top of the arch likely discharges rainwater from the top of the windmill.

Historic Maps of Carlton

Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map 1982 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1982 photorevision of the USGS topographic map shows the ruins. However, the structure immediately to the west is omitted with other new structures scattered around the golf course at Estate Carlton.
Snippet of the U.S. Geological Service topographic map of 1958featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1958 USGS topographic map shows a windmill ruin with a structure immediately to the west and other structures scattered about Estate Carlton.
Snippet of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey topographic map of 1920 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1920 USGS topographic shows the Carlton mill in the northern half of the estate. It also indicates an old mill in the southwest corner of the estate.
Snippet of the Danish Atlantic Islands Association map of 1907 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1907 map indicates a windmill ruin at Estate Carlton.
Snippet of the Parsons map of 1856 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
Parsons’ 1856 map depicts two windmills close to one another at Estate Carlton in the north central portion a the end of a road leading from Center Line Road.
Snippet of the Oxholm map of 1799 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
Oxholm’s 1799 map shows a windmill in the northern half of Estate Carlton.
Snippets of the Mühlenfels map of 1790 & the Janssen map of 1791 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1790 & 1791 manuscript maps after Beck by Mühlenfels & Janssen attribute ownership to Bradshaw for estates 2 & 3.
Snippet of the Küffner map of 1767 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
Küffner’s 1767 Beck replica includes a sugar mill in the area of Carlton estate.
Snippet of the Zöllner manuscript copy of Beck from 1766 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
Zöllner’s 1766 manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts a windmill. Similar to the 1766 annotated Beck map, ownership, along with estate 18 to the north, attributed to Nicolay Donbavons heirs.
Snippet of the 1766 unsigned Beck manuscript copy featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1766 unsigned manuscript copy of Beck’s map depicts no sugar machinery. Similar to the 1749 map, ownership, along with estate 18 to the north, is attributed to Nicolay Dombavins.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of c.1770 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The c.1770 annotated Beck map illustrates the printed animal mill converted to a windmill. Ownership of estates 2 and 18 attributed to Ferral and Tuite, while estate 3, colored the same as estates 2 and 18, is only attributed to Roger Ferral.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of 1770 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1770 annotated Beck map illustrates the animal mill in estate 2 and it is not converted to a windmill. Ownership attributed to Inc Tuite and Rodger Ferral, along with neighboring estates 3 and 18. The name underlined in red indicates a sugar plantation.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of c.1767 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The c.1767 annotated Beck map shows an animal mill in estsate 2 and it is not converted to a windmill. Ownership attributed to Roger Ferrall, along with neighboring estates 3 and 18.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of 1767 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
On the 1767 annotated Beck map, sails drawn on the originally printed animal mill differ from the windmill on the 1766 Beck revision. The animal mill in estate 18 is marked out. Ownership of estates 2, 3, and 18 attributed to Roger Ferrall.
Snippet of the annotated Beck map of 1766 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The 1766 annotated Beck map illustrates a red windmill drawn over the animal mill depicted on the earlier prints. Ownership, along with estate 18 to the north, is attributed to Nicolay Dunbavins heirs.
Snippet of the Beck map printed in 1754 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
In the 1750s, the first and second printings of the Beck map show an animal mill just north of center in the estate. Quirks in the drawing underline the engraving remained unchanged between the two printings, with the right arm touches the box of the animal mill and the left arm does not.
Snippet of the Cronenberg and von Jaegersberg map of 1750 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
The yellow coloring indicates this plantation was cultivating sugar in 1749. However, production equipment is not depicted, while a red-roofed plantation house with 2 slave quarters to the west indicated in the northern portion of the estate. Ownership attributed to Dom Babin.
Snippet of the Lapointe map of 1671 featuring West End Quarter estate # 2, currently named Carlton.
During the French period, the vicinity of today’s Estate Carlton has no name.