Great Thatch ruin
Great Thatch ruin is a ruin on Great Thatch island in the British Virgin Islands. The ruin probably dates from the sugar plantation era, but may be earlier. It was presumed abandoned during the economic collapse of the British Virgin Islands during the mid-19th century, when many plantations were abandoned. The ruin covers a significant estate, and is an indicator of some wealth. Because of its close proximity to the Danish Antilles next door (the modern day United States Virgin Islands), the inhabitants of the island were under long suspicion of smuggling by the British authorities. For many years, the island boasted its own customs house and post office, due to its proximity to Charlotte Amalie, but these were not manned at night.
It is not clear when the ruin was finally fully abandoned, although bottles found on the site from the Portobello bottle company in Edinburgh, Scotland suggest that it may have been as late as 1907. The cistern on the site does not exhibit the same level of deterioration as similar parts of ruins in the Territory which are known to have been abandoned during the 1850s.
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