Cooper Bay ruin

The ruin dates from the sugar plantation era, and was presumed abandoned during the economic collapse of the British Virgin Islands during the mid-19th century.

Until relatively recently, the ruins were extremely difficult to get to, as no roads led to the bay, and the ghuts leading down the mountain side were relatively steep.

The bay is not accessible by sea due to the coral reefs lying close to the shore, and the strong north side swells.

However, in 2007 a long road was cut down to the bay as part of a housing development making it relatively simple for visitors to see the ruins.

It is possible that the ruin was only fortified subsequently as a potential defence and slave insurrections prior to the abolition of slavery.