Chattle Houses have a long history in Barbados. They were originally built by slaves on the island. Slaves weren't allowed to own any property, so they built easily moveable houses on their masters property. If the slaves family grew, they would just add on sections to the house; Chattle houses generally only have one main room (bathroom would be outdoors). These houses are built in sections so that they can be torn down almost as simply as they were built.
If a slaves master said they had to move, slaves would just take apart their house piece by piece and rebuild it elsewhere. The mobility of the house allowed slaves shelter without actually owning a house or property.
These chattle houses are still lived in all over the island, but are often in bad shape. In their decrepit states, I find they have such a beautiful, raw aesthetic to them. I will definitely be posting more photos of chattle houses along the way!
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