Snowdon during their honeymoon in May 1960. Early ownership Tennant gave the land in a relatively undeveloped state, although he undertook to clear out ‘the wall of undergrowth which blocked any sight of the sea’. The Les Jolies Eaux headland was formerly a sugar plantation, dating back to the 19th century. It had been neglected over time, resulting in excessive amounts of overgrowth and soil erosion. Princess Margaret stated, ‘this is my house’ and this island is ‘the only square inch in the world I own’. It was this transition of ownership from Lord Glenconner to Princess Margaret which altered the architectural, aesthetic and historical landscape of the Les Jolies Eaux villa. The development of the estate was undertaken by the princess. Eight years after receiving the gift, she began construction. Tennant, who acted as her lead architect, suggested Oliver Messel – uncle of Lord Snowdon and a leading set designer in Britain – to design the villa. Oliver Messel Messel was a permanent resident of the Caribbean – due to health issues prohibiting him from travelling – allowing him to oversee the project, and had already designed a number of other cottages and villas in Barbados. Princess Margaret wanted the villa to complement and blend into the "magnificent views". Messel designed a villa with a close attention to detail, synthesising traditional Caribbean architecture with 18th-century European influences. Design Les Jolies Eaux is a single-story stone villa with accommodation for ten guests. Messel incorporated English Baroque elements including the convex courtyard. The villa was designed around the pre-existing flora and Messel ensured that the decades-old cedar trees would encompass the villa, acting as a barrier against media intrusion. Messel took advantage of the panoramic views of the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea by installing glass-panelled internal doors and windows to blend the interior and exterior environment. The design features large stained glass windows. Other than the living room, the four bedrooms and the kitchen integrated this Neo-Georgian style as they were organized to be separated into two corresponding wings, aligned on either side of the axis of the house. Down through the terrace, Messel cultivated a garden full of calla lilies, oleanders, hibiscus and bougainvillea. Adjacent to the lawn, laid a pool, which allowed swimmers to be at eye-level with the horizon of the Caribbean Sea. Messel also had to take into account the tropical weather conditions. The roof was designed