The private enterprise Heritage Collection, a museum owned and operated by Anguilla’s renowned historian, Mr. Colville Petty, OBE, has turned over all of its historic and cultural items to the Ministry of Social Development.
The handing over ceremony took place through the signing of an Agreement at the restored Old Court House on Crocus Hill, where the museum will now be housed.
The Honourable Minister of Social Development, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, spoke at the handing over ceremony on the importance of cultural and historic preservation.
“This is a very momentous occasion for Anguilla – our young people and our society in general,” the Minister said. “Cultural preservation is something that is fundamental to our country’s identity. This National Museum and the Heritage Collection that was developed by Mr. Colville Petty form a very important part of our history and cultural preservation.”
“I know that Mr. Petty has worked hard and long in his role as our national historian,” she said, “but it is very important that the Government of Anguilla also seeks to play a part in the long term preservation of our culture, so that it can not only form part of our tourism assets, but also in relation to our social development.”
The Old Courthouse will from henceforth be named the Anguilla National Museum and will feature the Heritage Collection’s items along with other artifacts that are of historical value to Anguilla.
It was Mr. Michael Taylor who worked assiduously with a proficient builder, Mr. Audley Carty, to restore the Old Courthouse.
A prominent member of the Anguilla Archeological & Historical Society, Mr. Kenn Banks gave an overview of the Old Courthouse and its restoration that was done over the period 2020 to 2021, solely by the financial contributions of American national, Mr. Michael Taylor who had lived in Anguilla for over thirty years.
“During the COVID-19 lockdown, Mr. Taylor stayed on the island throughout the pandemic to personally manage the restoration project of the Old Courthouse,” Mr. Banks said. “The Anguilla Archeological [& Historical] Society provided him with technical support during the reconstruction work on this historic site.
“Once the construction was completed in 2021, Mr. Taylor introduced the idea of relocating the contents of the Heritage Collection to the restored building so that it can be a National Museum. He found that Mr. Petty, OBE, Owner and Curator of the Heritage Museum was like-minded and willing to comply with his idea.”
“Mr. Petty wanted to ensure that even after his retirement, his prized life-long collection to which he had devoted all his waking hours since his retirement from public service twenty-five years ago, would continue to be a window to the past for Anguillians and visitors alike,” Mr. Banks said.
Mr. Petty’s daughter, Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett, testified of her father’s commitment in developing his ‘collection’.
She said that her dad would search all across the island for old items of archeological, historic and cultural value.
“Today, the Heritage Collection contains arguably the most extensive array of artifacts, historical and cultural items in Anguilla,” she said. “Our family is grateful to be able to share this collection with the people of Anguilla and it is our hope that, through it, our people would be able to connect with their heritage in a way that gives them a sense of hope, purpose and community.”
“It is my hope that this museum will ensure that current and future generations of Anguillians and all the visitors who come from outside would continue to have access to the history and the heritage of this remarkable island, and I hope that such a heritage would not be lost,” Mr. Taylor said.
Simultaneous with the signing of the Agreement for the handing over of the contents of the Heritage Collection was the handing over of the keys to the restored Old Court House, now the National Museum. They were handed over by Contractor Audley Carty to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake.
According to the Director of Youth and Culture, Ms. Avon Carty, the National Museum will be inaugurated during the second quarter of this year, 2024.
Mr. Petty had committed most of his life, since his retirement as a public servant, collecting, honing and polishing items of significant historical interest and placing them on display in his museum showroom first at South Hill and later at East End. Mr. Petty’s collected artifacts are worth over US$80,000.
