Mille Fleur calls to mind a time in Trinidad’s history when the elite class reflected very European sensibilities. The upper classes were likely to be of French or British descent, foreign-born, and foreign-educated. Everything from architecture to daily attire was representative of the small but powerful white class who dwelled in centres of power like the capital city.

Perhaps the most understated of the Magnificent Seven is Hayes Court. The end of its construction in 1910 would mark the completion of the Magnificent Seven. Hayes Court was intended and still currently serves as the official residence of the Anglican Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago. The Anglican Church’s presence in Trinidad naturally began with the island’s capture by the British in 1797.

When coming up Maraval Road around Queen’s Park Savannah, Queen’s Royal College is the first of the Magnificent Seven that you’ll see. Accompanying the grand façade is an even grander legacy. As far as ‘prestige’ schools go, Queen’s Royal College is a king amongst kings. But why in our post-colonial aspiring meritocracy does the reputation of colonial-era institutions hold so strong?