Main Guard House Clock Tower, Bridgetown

The centerpiece of the Garrison area of town is the Main Guard. With its clock tower and impressive stature, the building has kept an eye on the historic Garrison Savanah since it was built around 1802. The Main Guard is part of Saint Ann's Fort, the remainder of which is across the street.

Saint Ann's Garrison was the headquarters of the British West India Regiment. The Regiment was a division of infantry units of the British Army stationed throughout the British colonies until 1927.

The Georgian-style Main Guard building is one of the island's architectural treasures. It is embellished with the coat of arms of King George III carved from Coade stone and an impressive clock tower. After the Regiment dissolved in 1906, the building was the home of the Savannah Club. Now it is owned by the government and is presently home to several official offices.

If you're lucky, you'll spot some of the military veterans who volunteer at the Main Guard. They often perform duties in full dress uniform, the same as the original West India Regiment full dress. The Barbados Defense Force is based at St. Anne's Fort.

On display around the Main Guard is an impressive collection of 26 historically important cannons. Barbados has one of the best collections of 17th-century cannons in the world. An effort was undertaken to catalog and preserve them, and researchers discovered many rare and valuable pieces. The oldest is from 1620, the youngest is from 1820, and the collection includes some one-of-a-kind treasures.