Manchester is one of Jamaica’s south central parishes. It’s often said that the north coast in Jamaica is for the tourists, while the south coast is for the locals. Of course, no parish is out of bounds for tourists, but it’s just that tourists seldom visit our quiet south coast when it’s more exciting up north. Manchester was formed in 1814 and is named for the Governor of Jamaica at that time. Manchester is primarily mountainous. Over 90% of Manchester’s surface is limestone which gives it an abundance of cockpits, sinkholes, caves and underground passages. That’s why most of the parish’s rivers run underground but form delightful swimming holes during the wet season. The longest and deepest caves in Jamaica are found in Manchester, namely the Gourie Cave near Christiana and the Smokey Hole Cave in Cross Keys. Manchester has large bauxite deposits, the raw material for aluminium production. Important crops in the parish are coffee, potatoes and citrus. Ortanique, a cross between the orange and tangerine, was developed here in Manchester, Jamaica.
Manchester was my home for two years, so I’m quite fond of the parish. I’m grateful for its doctors, nurses, allied HCWs and the patients which shaped my early career. I miss the clinics of south Manchester and its generous residents who made sure I was never short of ground provisions, spices and fruits. Mandeville, the capital of Manchester, is located at 2,000 feet above sea level. Temperatures fall to as low as 12.7 °C (55 °F) in December and January, which is very cool for a tropical island. The parish experiences hailstorms and gets misty after heavy rainfall, even in the peak of summer. There aren’t a lot of things to do in Manchester, but there are a few destinations. Here are 16 photos which celebrate the beauty of Manchester.
Get weekly travel content in your inbox when you subscribe to Adventures from Elle.
Also, check out my book and GetYourGuide storefront for more travel ideas.
16 Photos of Manchester, the Cool Breeze Parish
Black sand beach in Alligator Pond 
River meets sea in Alligator Pond (Sea Riv) 
Little Ochie Seafood Restaurant
Swimming Hole in St. Toolis, Porus 
Cecil Charlton Park in Mandeville, Manchester 
Gut River 
Old railway track in Porus
Noisy River in Oxford, Manchester 
Another view of Noisy River 
Tranquil setting in Oxford 
Country life is nice! Porus, Manchester
Another look at Little Ochie 
Little Ochie Fishing Beach
Wrap Up
I hope you enjoyed these photos of Manchester. Let me know in the comments which one was your favourite. Share this post with your friends and family, and don’t forget to subscribe for new posts which publish each Friday.
‘Til next time.
Find Elle on Facebook, Instagram & lend your support to keep me on the road.
Leave a Reply