The history of the Morne Fendue Plantation dates back to the time of the French occupation. The then 393 acre estate owned by Heritiers L’ Espangol produced sugar, tobacco and coffee. After 1763 it was owned jointly by John Ruecker and Robert Harvey Esq. Robert Farquhar acquired it in 1801 and some time after that it became the property of the Patterson family. Frederick Kent came to it in 1856 and the property remained in the family until 1998.

Morne Fendue Plantation House was rebuilt and this rebuilding was completed in 1903 by George Kent, son of Frederick Kent. The new structure designed by Landreth Smith, retained the one and a half century old back steps, outer kitchen, servants quarters, stables and all buttressing walls. The house was built from land cut stones on the surface and solid stone held in place with Molasses and Lime. Currently it sits on a five and a half acre plot as the remnants of the former cocoa estate now, now home to the beautiful gardens with glorious views.

Under the management of George Kent, Morne Fendue Plantation House became the parent house of the following estates – Morne Fendue, Plains, Chambord, Mt Rich, Levera and Simone. Altogether exceeding acreage of 2500. Except for Simone all these estates were more or less continuous or at least adjoining each other. Together they represent a history that is extensively unique and special to the fabric of West Indian history.

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Betty and her six siblings spent their childhood in St Patrick’s, Grenada, enjoying the freedom on unspoilt country life. Betty was active in sports and loved tennis, netball and horseback riding. She received an excellent education, first in Trinidad, and then in England and Switzerland. When her formal education was complete, she returned to Grenada, but shortly after when World War II broke out she left for Britain to join the armed forces. Betty was a member of the Ordinance Corps and served to 1946. Betty was a war veteran at the age of 34! She returned to Grenada armed with two medals – the Defence Medal for Service and the Overseas Service Medal.

Hurricane Janet devastated Grenada in 1955. These desperate circumstances galvanized Betty into action. She accepted the responsibility of Red Cross Representative for Sauteurs, and although her home had been badly damaged, it was pressed into service as a warehouse and rallying point for distribution of food, blankets, and mattresses, medical and emergency supplies. Long days and nights were spent in exhausted and unceasing service. By personally undertaking a survey of needs of the people of the parish, she also took aid to families in need, wherever they were.

The experiences of Hurricane Janet convinced Betty that social welfare and community work was her vocation. In 1956 she accepted eh voluntary post of Officer-in-Charge of the Sauteurs Division of the St. John’s Ambulance, eventually holding the rank of Principal Superintendent, serving on the St John’s council. She gave lifetime service to the Red Cross becoming an Executive Member of the Grenada Branch. She was active in the Girl Guide Movement. She served on the Board of Management of the Grenada Boys Secondary School, the St. Patrick’s Board, and Government’s Selection Committee for Migrant to Canada, the Executive Committee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, the Sauteurs Day Nursery and the St Patrick’s Girl Guide Association.

One wonders where Betty got time for a family life, but she did have a fulfilling, if tragic one. She became Mrs. Sidney Mascoll in 1948, and had two sons – Stephen and Ian. She gloried in their growing up and saw them married and have their children. Heartbreak descended when both her beloved sons died within a few years of each other. The first at the age of 39 and the second aged 33, full of the promise of brilliant careers in engineering and accountancy. She remained devoted to her daughters-in-law and her grandchildren who brought her much joy. Betty also embraced her extended family and made time to visit friends, and to have gatherings at her home.

Betty also played a notable part in Grenada’s tourist industry utilizing the facilities in her plantation home, Morne Fendue, as a guest house and Creole restaurant.

The many awards received during her lifetime included the Medal of Honour from the Queen in 1959 for Betty’s valuable services as a social worker, and the award of Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1965. In 1980 she was selected to be the Woman of the Year by the United Grenadians in New York. In 1989 she received he Grenada Independence Award as Most Outstanding Voluntary Social Worker of the Year. She was recognized by the St John’s Ambulance as a Sister and Officer of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem.

Betty died in 1998, having spent her life giving her loving service to others in an untiring, selfless and cheerful way. Betty died of Breast Cancer.

Copy from the issue 5 of the Truly Discover Grenada publication.

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A buyer was found and on the day of the final signing the to be new owner slipped into the conversation the fact that he was paying all this money for a house that he was going to pull down anyway. Edward did not sign and later declared that the sale was off and that a new owner had to be found.

Someone who had got to know Betty quite well was her Physician Dr. Jean Thompson. Dr Thompson also got to know the house well as she was a regular visitor especially during Betty’s illness. Knowing that Dr Thompson had grown fond of the house she was approached about buying the property. Edward wanted the house to remain in its original form and did not want it to be pulled down and was willing to reduce the price dramatically. After some consideration Dr Thompson purchased the property and still owns the house today. Jean has added some letting rooms and a food pavilion as the house itself needs a lot of restoration. Not only did the house fall in to disrepair towards the end of Betty’s life but was hit by hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Dr Jean Thompson was born in Grenada and was educated in Canada, England and America. She knew from a very early age that her calling was to help and care for people and has been a General Practitioner for over 13 years. You can find Jean most days opening her doors to the villagers of Sauteurs offering assistance. No matter what time of day or night that Jean is called, she will do all she can to help. Jean hopes that Morne Fendue will continue to be a popular visitor destination as this will enable her to continue her other work of supporting the local community with their medical needs.

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