Timeless Beauty: Georgian Architecture in Jamaica

Georgian architecture is a style that originated in the early 18th century in Britain during the reigns of the first four King Georges (1714-1830). This architectural style has left an indelible mark on the world with its timeless elegance, balanced proportions and classical design elements. Our colonial ties to Britain led to the emergence of Jamaican Georgian architecture during the late 1700s-1800s, with its emphasis on light and air, and modified to suit the tropical climate of the Caribbean. Despite the negative history attached to Jamaican colonial buildings, I still admire the timeless beauty of our surviving Georgian buildings. With that said, today I’ll share more about Jamaican Georgian architecture as well as nine surviving Georgian buildings across Jamaica worth visiting.

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Jamaican Georgian Architecture

The characteristics of Jamaican Georgian architecture include:

• Symmetry: Georgian buildings are known for their symmetrical facades. This means that the structure is balanced on either side of a central point, with identical or closely matching features on both sides.
• Stone or brick walls.
• Windows: Large and evenly spaced windows are a defining feature. These windows are typically adorned with decorative sashes and may include elegant shutters.
• Classical Elements: Georgian colonial architecture often incorporates classical elements like columns, pilasters, and pediments. Ionic and Corinthian orders are common choices for columns.
• Roof: Roofs in Georgian buildings are typically hipped or gabled. The roofline is simple and unadorned.
• Entrance: Grand entrances with ornate doorways are a common feature.
• Symmetrical Gardens: Georgian buildings are often accompanied by well-maintained, symmetrical gardens and pathways.

The Georgian Society of Jamaica is a non-profit organization which began in 1967 out of concern for the destruction and neglect of colonial buildings in Jamaica. They seek to educate, preserve and restore Jamaican buildings erected during the Georgian Period.

9 Georgian Style Buildings in Jamaica

1. Devon House

Devon House in St. Andrew is one of Jamaica’s most famous Georgian-style buildings. It’s my favourite Jamaican Georgian-style building overall because it was built by Jamaica’s first Black millionaire, George Stiebel, who earned his wealth in Venezuelan gold mines. Built in 1881, it features exquisite architectural details, a grand entrance and stairwell, chandeliers, a ballroom, grand piano and fine artwork. The grounds are symmetrical, well-tended and feature a beautiful fountain. Devon House is now a popular historical and cultural site, and was designated as a National Monument by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Its grounds host dozens of restaurants and shops, and was officially launched as Jamaica’s First Gastronomy Centre in 2017. Also, its ice cream shop was named as the 4th Best Place to enjoy ice cream in the world by the National Geographic in 2011.

• Interested in touring this Georgian style mansion? Read more here.
• Also, check out 10 other fun things to do at Devon House.

2. Rose Hall Great House

This Georgian-style colonial mansion, shrouded in legends of the supernatural, stands as one of Jamaica’s most iconic historic landmarks. Built in the 18th century, the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay showcases the elegant architecture of the Georgian era, featuring white exteriors, a grand entrance, and symmetrical design. Its richly furnished rooms, each with a unique story, provide visitors with a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the plantation owners who once resided here. Yet, it’s not just its architectural beauty that draws attention. The house is also famed for the chilling tales of the “White Witch of Rose Hall,” Annie Palmer, who is said to haunt the estate, earning it a spot on this list of “Four Haunted Places You Can Visit in Jamaica“. As such, both day and night tours are available of this great house.

• Read More: Rose Hall Great House tour
• Also, check out: Staying at the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites

3. Falmouth Court House

Falmouth, a small historic town on Jamaica’s north coast, is home to the Falmouth Court House. This Georgian building was constructed in 1815 and displays the characteristic symmetry and red-brick exterior, which are emblematic of the style. It has since been restored and given a face lift with Jamaican colours, and now you can check out this historic building on a walking tour of Falmouth!

4. Bellefield Great House

Another gem in Montego Bay, Bellefield Great House slightly pre-dates the Georgian period but still showcases Georgian architecture with its balanced façade, graceful columns, and elegant proportions. This colonial house is set amidst lush tropical gardens and has sweeping views of greater Montego Bay, the cruise ship terminal and Caribbean Sea. The house is open to the public for tours, weddings and private events.

5. Good Hope Great House

This 18th-century plantation house is located 6 miles south of Falmouth in the foothills of the Cockpit Country, and is watered by the Martha Brae river which carves a serpentine path through its estate. Built in 1755, the Good Hope Great House is located on a former sugar plantation which grew into a village over the years with its own church, a 300-bed hospital used to treat the enslaved, and a Free School which taught enslaved people how to read and write. These acts of kindness are likely what spared the estate and its Great House from the ravishes of the 1831 slave rebellion when many great houses were destroyed. Today, this great house can be toured on a visit to the Chukka Cove adventure centre near Falmouth.

6. Mandeville Court House

The Mandeville Court House is a significant legal and administrative building located in Mandeville, Jamaica. Built in 1817, it was constructed in the Jamaican Georgian style with two storeys, the top floor having columns, louvres and sash windows. A double spiral staircase leads from the lower storey on to a portico and the top storey. Currently closed for renovation, this Georgian building is actually the oldest building in the Mandeville Square and is well worth preserving.

7. The University Chapel at UWI Mona

In 1955, the old boiler house of the Hampden Estate & Distillery was donated by its owners to the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus to be used as the University Chapel. This beautiful Georgian building was dismantled block by block, each building stone was meticulously numbered, then transported to the UWI and reassembled. It took three years to complete the task. As an alumnus of this university, I must say that their service was greatly appreciated as this was my favourite building on campus. What a beauty!

8. Emancipation Square in Spanish Town

The most iconic Georgian buildings on the island surround the square in Spanish Town, now known as the Emancipation Square. This is where the Emancipation Declaration was read on August 1, 1838 and symbolized the freeing of my people from chattel slavery. Spanish Town, built by the Spanish in 1534, was first known as Villa de la Vega, St. Jago de la Vega and later, Spanish Town. This town is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Jamaica, and was the capital of Jamaica until 1872. As such, this square contains many historical buildings such as the Old House of Assembly, Old Court House and Rodney’s Memorial, among other buildings. Some of the buildings have since been destroyed by fire, but nonetheless, the Emancipation Square is still considered to be the most impressive of its kind in the West Indies. However, please exercise caution when visiting Spanish Town in light of the area’s high crime rates and gang violence.

9. Half Way Tree Court House

Built in 1807, this Georgian-style court house has shifted in its functions over the years from court house to accommodation, and later the venue for the Second Junior Centre by the Institute of Jamaica until the 1980s. Over the years, it has been refurbished a few times but now lies dilapidated in the heart of Half-Way-Tree at a major intersection.

Wrap Up

Jamaica’s Georgian-style buildings offer a glimpse into the island’s colonial past, where British influences fused with Caribbean charm to create architectural masterpieces. These structures stand as a testament to the enduring appeal of the Georgian style and the rich history of Jamaica. Have you ever visited or would you like to visit any of these Jamaican Georgian buildings? Sound off in the comments below. In fact, we have several more which didn’t make today’s list so let me know if I left out any of your favourites.

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:

• 6 Sculptures Which Define Kingston
• 6 Art Galleries in Kingston
• 5 Jamaican Taino Sites You Can Visit

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