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Abandoned ‘Cultural Centre’ serving as 'home' for mentally challenged person?

- Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall likely to be demolished to make way for arts center, national library & museum
Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall was severely damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017 and remains in a state of disrepair. Photo: VINO
Inside the lobby area of the now abandoned Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photo: VINO
Inside the lobby area of the now abandoned Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photo: VINO
Inside the lobby area of the now abandoned Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photo: VINO
Inside the lobby area of the now abandoned Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photo: VINO
Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall was once the place for performing arts, weddings and other events. Photo: VINO
Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall was once the place for performing arts, weddings and other events. Photo: VINO
Inside the abandoned Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photo: VINO
Inside the abandoned Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- There may be no coming back for the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall, which was severely damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017; however, in the meantime, it appears to be a place of refuge for at least one person to rest their weary head at nights.

This was confirmed by an individual who works in the vicinity of the damaged building referred to as the Cultural Centre’.

“Yes, a man lives in there but he is not someone of sound mind,” the individual told our newsroom.

A visit to Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall on February 17, 2022, resulted in proof that indeed someone uses the facility to maybe just sleep at nights.

There were lots of clothes strewn on the ground as well as in shopping carts and some hung on doors. There were also a number of cardboard boxes and a pram.

Notably on the ground was an opened bible.

Building likely to be demolished

Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall was built in memory of Sir Rupert Brierclife CMG, OBE, MD, FRCP for the benefit of residents of Tortola in accordance with the terms of a Trust established under the will of the late Briercliffe, who was born in Bolton, England on January 27, 1889, and died at Pasea, Tortola on December 2, 1975.

The architect for Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall was Mr Ira L. Smith and the building contractor was Mr Milton Smith.

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) had said in August 2019 that a recommendation was made for Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall to be torn down.

According to the Minister, he envisions a performing arts center, national library and museum to be constructed in the area once the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall is demolished.

21 Responses to “Abandoned ‘Cultural Centre’ serving as 'home' for mentally challenged person?”

  • pat (18/02/2022, 13:28) Like (40) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is sad and shameful
  • UK (18/02/2022, 14:24) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply
    Build a shelter for the homeless people....
  • Joseph Fahie (18/02/2022, 14:54) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Once we rebuild, let us consider renaming the new art center, and national library after the late Father Randolph Pickering. Ran Pickering of Salt Island was the son of the late Mr. Austin Pickering, and passionate about arts and education in the territory. Folks would remember him being a staple at every event at the Briercliffe Hall, especially during the local pageants. Randolph, was also an astute scholar, and was a local professor at the Sandy Lane Center, focused on rehabilitating young men who had lost their way with drugs. He could always been found at the local library or selling books from his mobile book van. Later in life, Randolph decided to give his life to religion and focused on ministering to the sick and spiritually weak, often giving special prayers and tokens with divine resolution. This man was a son of the soil, enriched in arts, scholarly and blessed, almost magical to say the least. This should be a serious consideration for our government ministers when the time comes.
    • Alamina Turnbull (18/02/2022, 18:30) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
      Joseph, thank you for that history lesson about Mr. Randolph Pickering. You should have also bought up that Randolph was instrumental in the great Wickhams Cay March with Mr. Noel Lloyd and Mr. Carlton de Castro. It is quite disheartening that the our territory no longer have honest and faithful men like Mr. Carlton de Castro.
  • annie. (18/02/2022, 15:04) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    there is a grand piano there...what a tragedy, too.
    • hmmm (19/02/2022, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hey Annie: How do you know it’s not being played?
      • gone (19/02/2022, 16:36) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        In this climate the strings are rusting, the termites are at the wood, it might be being played but Annie is right. It’s a shame - grand pianos are such a rare find because they need climate control and maintenance and a pain to import in the first place. So to see such a rare find not salvaged is a unfortunate. Oh well … BVI has bigger fish to fry.
      • HAHA (19/02/2022, 18:49) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        Who said someone was playing it?? Stupes!
  • Matthew (18/02/2022, 15:14) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its dah fat deportee yankee dude who came out of prison a while back. Every evening he travels from crablot to the hall with a cart load of stuff, appears like his personal belongings.............HE NEED HELP
    • tola (18/02/2022, 22:39) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ mathew them stuff he get from red cross donations and sell them in the ghetto. He need help
  • Smh (18/02/2022, 15:28) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    With so much homelessness in the BVI, there is need for a homeless shelter, one part for women and children, one part for men.
  • Old Post Office (18/02/2022, 16:43) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    It has another vagrant living under the old post office. in the heart of town. The place reeks and the entire building is unsightly. Passed by recently and he had a pants hanging on the railing.
  • id (18/02/2022, 17:03) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Which VIP minister is living there?
  • king (18/02/2022, 18:18) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    You all expect the government to do everything
  • YES SIR (18/02/2022, 18:30) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bet the BVI thought this could never happen in the BVI. The BVI is now becoming like the outside with the homelessness. When homelessness start in any City, it escalates. Almost every where that is abandon there is homeless people squatting in.
  • Miro (18/02/2022, 22:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let's wait and see
  • Non - Belonging (19/02/2022, 08:33) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the sadest story.
    A man loves the BVI and leaves in his will this great gift to the people. The storm knock it and the peoples don't fix it....
    It don't look that far gone to me. Why no consideration to fix?


  • terrible (19/02/2022, 09:55) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Says it all right there: abandoned cultural center. Did the BVIs just abandon culture? Or, was it a center for abandoned culture. Either way, that the building remains abandoned says all you need to know about the leaderships’s attitude to culture, and its evident disrespect for Rupert Briercliffe’s legacy.
  • trust (19/02/2022, 10:33) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    One of the key statements in this article is that there was a trust set up. Who is In charge of said trust? Didn’t they trust pay for insurance for the building? Why has is not been rebuilt with insurance money?
  • Just saying (19/02/2022, 13:48) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    The vip will get to this in its second term
  • Windy (19/02/2022, 16:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Very good investigative piece vino


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