Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall to be demolished to store materials for Mighty Scatliffe
The infrastructure and integrity of the building were further damaged in the two category-five hurricanes of 2017. After the hurricanes, the building was only used for homeless residents seeking shelter.
Today, what is left of the building located adjacent to the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, in the capital city Road Town, remains an eyesore. The building is a symbol of over a decade of neglect, with overgrown weeds and trees, and broken windows, and a portion of the roof has collapsed with most of the interior left exposed to the elements.
A promise in 2019?
In 2019, then Minister for Education and Culture Dr the Hon Natalio D Wheatley (R7) told the public that it would have been demolished then and replaced by a performing arts facility, however, there have only been token amounts placed in the budgets over the years to make this a reality, even now as culture has been placed under Dr Wheatley’s portfolio.
As of today, January 2, 2024, word is that the building will now be demolished and the site used as a staging ground for materials for the ‘coming soon’ construction of the new Althea Scatliffe Primary School aka ‘Mighty Mighty Scatliffe’.
Potential contracts were invited last week to a meeting to hear about the demolition project and general information about the bidding/tendering process.
The Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall demolition project is spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports.
Who is Sir Rupert?
It remains unclear which government body or agency the building falls under.
Sir Briercliffe was knighted by King George V in 1919. He came to the Virgin Islands in 1957 and he resided in Pasea Estate on the main Island of Tortola until the time of his death on December 2, 1975. He was 86 years of age.
The funeral of Sir Briercliffe was held at the St George's Anglican Church, Road Town, and his remains were interned in the church's cemetery. It is our understanding that he was a wealthy man and left a fortune, around several hundred thousand dollars (in 1975), most of which, according to reports, was for community purposes on behalf of the people of the [British] Virgin Islands.
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29 Responses to “Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall to be demolished to store materials for Mighty Scatliffe”
Just like althea scatliffe. These buildings are not that old just lack of purpise and maintenance..
This building does not neeed to be torn down - this is a waste to tear it down.