Hidden History in Tobago

Hidden History in Northeast Tobago: Merchiston Estate. Tucked away in the Queen’s Bay area of St. Paul parish (near today’s Speyside and Roxborough region), once stood Merchiston Estate, a sugar plantation with deep Scottish roots.

Established in the late 1760s after Britain took control of Tobago, the estate was formed from early land lots and later became strongly linked to the Napier family. By the early 1800s, it was owned by Archibald Napier, who proudly called himself “of Merchiston, Tobago.”

At its height, the estate was a working sugar plantation, part of the Scottish planter network that left many familiar place names across the island. After emancipation, the property gradually declined, like so many Tobago estates, and by the 1860s it was recorded as abandoned. Today the name Merchiston still appears on the map in the scenic northeast, a quiet reminder of the island’s complex colonial past.

Next time you’re exploring the windward coast between Roxborough, Speyside and the Main Ridge, take a moment to think about the layers of history beneath the forests and hills. Tobago’s stories run deep.

Have you ever come across old estate names while travelling around the island? Share your finds or a photo of the estate below