Early attempts at settling upon Barbuda by the English were resisted the fierce Carib Indians. Barbuda was eventually colonized by John and Christopher Codrington, who came over from Antigua in 1685 to establish a provisioning station and, legend has it, a slave-breeding home for their plantations in Antigua, under a 99-year lease from Queen Anne of England.

Between 1750 and 1800, the British built a fort at a point called River, which included the 52-ft (17-m) high observation tower now known as Martello. It was modeled after a tower built on Cape Mortella in Corsica during the Napoleonic Wars. The fort was equipped with three guns. Apart from defense purposes, the fort was also used as a high vantage point to spot shipwrecks on the reefs surrounding the island.

At the beach’s edge adjacent to the Martello Tower is the laid-back Martello Anchorage Bar and Grill , the only beach bar on Barbuda. This locally-owned restaurant, which opened in 2008, prepares a variety of seafood including fish and lobster dishes, served with traditional Barbudan vegetables, such as squash, beans, pumpkin, and peppers, as well as cool drinks. With some spectacular ocean views, the bar is a favorite venue for beach parties.