The Changing of the Sentry

The “Changing of the Sentry” activity takes place every Thursday at Noon in Barbados’ Historic Garrison in front of the 1806 Main Guard clock tower.

This iconic building is located at the geographic center of the Historic Garrison and happens only100 meters away from the front gates of George Washington House. So it’s a ‘must see’ if you are visiting our area on a Thursday.

This was the location where security was administered from throughout the Garrison era between 1789 and 1905. The Garrison, surrounded by a wall, was guarded 24 hours daily and is where sentries were posted at the 5 main gates and at sentry boxes strategically located between the gates.

Orders were delivered daily at this location to the sentries who were then dispatched to their assigned posts. The activity is accompanied by a drum corps which has been added to offer additional flare to the spectacle.

The colorful French styled uniforms being worn by the sentries are called ‘Zouave’ uniforms. They were noticed by Queen Victoria while she was attending a parade in Paris in France in 1856. The uniform was originally worn by French Algerian tribe soldiers who had been incorporated into the French army at the time. Queen Victoria was so impressed by the uniform, that she decide one of her regiments should wear it also. One of the two regiments that were chosen to wear the uniform were the West India Regiments.