Parliament Buildings (Barbados)

The Parliament Buildings
Location within Barbados
Former names	The Public Buildings
Alternative names	Parliament House
General information
Status	Completed
Architectural style	Gothic (neo-gothic, with a local or vernacular flavour)
Location	Bridgetown, Barbados
Address	Parliament Square
Coordinates	13°05′49.15″N 59°36′50.11″W / 13.0969861°N 59.6139194°W / 13.0969861; -59.6139194
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Year(s) built	1870-1874
Inaugurated	16 June 1874
Cost	£25 000
Client	Barbadian government

The Parliament Buildings (also known as The Public Buildings, or more rarely Parliament House), is the seat of the Parliament of Barbados. Built between 1870 and 1874, the buildings have been the meeting place for both chambers of Parliament since 16 June 1874, and a former site of Colonial administration of Barbados. It consists of two buildings in the neo-Gothic architectural style, and are reminiscent of the Victorian era of Great Britain.

The buildings are situated along the north bank of the Constitution River and are bordered by Upper Broad Street and National Heroes Square to the south; strategically at the heart of the capital city Bridgetown. Prior to the establishment of the buildings the legislature met at the Town Hall building (beside the now abandoned National Library Service of Barbados building) on Coleridge Street.

In 1989 the Public Buildings were officially renamed the Parliament Buildings by Act of Parliament. In 2011 both buildings were designated as UNESCO protected properties within the World Heritage Site of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison area.^[1]