Little has been written about Dominica’s estates, many of them now lost to the bush or abandoned. Now, A Caribbean History – Hillsborough: A Plantation in Dominica tells the story of one of the island’s most important and historic estates – one that is still worked and whose history stretches back to the time when Kalinago people lived on the estate’s flat lands at the mouth of the Layou River.

A Caribbean History is presented as an educational pack for the age group at the top of primary school and first years of secondary school – with 12 beautifully illustrated cards with research, questions and activities for students. The cards are supported by an extensively researched booklet for teachers. The pack is structured to be taught across the curriculum.

The story of Hillsborough is also a Caribbean history – for what happened at Hillsborough is typical of other estates in the region. This story embraces the main themes of Caribbean history: from sugar to tourism, from slavery to freedom, hurricanes and revolt. Importantly, Hillsborough also links with the industrial revolution in England for the Greg family, who owned Hillsborough for 150 years, were also the owners of Quarry Bank mill, near Manchester, one of the largest textile mills in England.