In the central part of the island, The Valley is Anguilla's capital and the island's one and only real town. It gets more interesting every season: New shops have opened in new buildings and renovated West Indian-style cottages. Old shops have been modernized and have enlarged their stocks as well as their space, resulting in clusters of mini-malls.
The Old Valley historic district, on the street that leads up Crocus Hill (the island's highest point), has several photogenic churches, including Ebenezer Methodist Church, which is the oldest church on the island—it was built by slaves in 1830—and is still in use.
There also are picturesque private dwellings, as well as shops and restaurants. Miss Marjorie Hodge's Homestead is one of the most photographed wooden dwellings on the island, and Rose Cottage is another example of The Valley's outstanding architectural heritage.
The Warden's Place was once the home of British administrators. A short walk away you'll find the ruins of the Old Court House on Crocus Hill. All that remains of the courthouse are the broken walls of a few basement jail cells. On the south side of town, you'll find historic Wallblake House and St. Gereard's Catholic Church.
The Factory was the center of Anguilla's cotton industry in the early 1900s; today the restored compound is known as the Old Factory Plaza.
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