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| Historic
Spanish Town |
| Excerpted
from the book, Jamaica,
by Don Philpott |
Spanish Town was
the former capital of the island and the town
square is said to be one of the finest examples
of Georgian architecture in the western hemisphere.
The Spanish originally called it Villa de
la Vega, which means town on the plain, after
abandoning their first settlement at Sevilla
la Nieva on the north coast in 1534. The town
came under repeated attacks from pirates and
the English over the next 120 ears. Finally,
in 1655 the English captured it and moved
in. As was the custom of the day, the English
oldiers were allowed to loot the town, but
the citizens had fled with almost everything
of value, and in their angr they burnt most
of the houses down.
The town remained the capital and was rebuilt
with some splendid buildings, such as the
Court House, Legislature and official residence
of the Governor. Spanish Town was the administrative
and judicial heart of the island, but Kingston
was rapidly becoming the comercial center,
and in 1755, exactly 100 years after the English
took over Jamaica the capital was transferred
to Kingsotn. After three years of litigation,
however, the move was ruled illegal because
Kingston merchants had bribed the Governor
to sign the capital-changing decree and the
King had never sanctioned it. Spanish Town
became the capital again, but Kingston continued
to prosper and in 1872 it was ade the chief
city again.
Most of the historic buildings are around
the Park i the center of town, although the
impressive cathedral is a few blocks south
on Red Church Street. The Court House stands
on the south of the Park. It was rebuilt after
being destroyed by fire in 1985 and is now
used for meetings.
Kings House is
on King Street on the western side of the
Park although only the front of the original
1762 building remains. The rest of the building
was destroyed gy a fire in 1925 and rebuilt.
The building has a special place in Jamaican
history because it was from the steps that
the proclamation of Emancipation was read
on 1 August 1938. It was the Governor's official
residence until 1872, when the capital was
transferred to Kingston. It now contains the
Archaeological Museum with artifacats excavated
at the site and exhibits tracing the history
of the area between 1534-1872.
The Jamaican Peoples
Museum of Craft and Technology is
in the former stables block. Exhibits include
implements, machinery and utensils, and displays
feturing the architecture and industrial culture
used throughout Jamaican history. It also
traces the links between the various cultures
that have merged on the island from the original
Ameridians. The Post Office is further along
King Street.
The Rodney Memorial
flanked by cannon, on the northern side of
the park commemorates Admiral George Rodney
whose victory over the combined Spanish and
French fleets at the Battle of the Saints
in 1782, almost certainly prevented Jamaica
from falling into enemy hands. Why scuptor
John Bacon should have portrayed Rodney wearing
a Roman toga and carrying a scroll, is not
clear. The National Archives are next to the
Memorial and contain a number of fascinating
documents, including a number about the Moravian
Church, a missionary sect that spread through
many of the Caribbean Islands educating the
slaves.
The House of Assembly
on the east side of the park, was completed
in 1762 although it has seen many changes
since, which explains the contrast between
the grand colonade ground floor and the wooden
first floor.
Other sights include the busy little Market
at the end of Adelaide Street that runs west
from the Park. The tin-roofed market offers
local produce, T-shirts and some souvenirs.
Nature's Habitat is a fishing and recreational
facility with picnic area, playing area, playing
area for children and a 9-hole mini golf course.
The Baptist Church,
on the corner of French and William Streets,
was built in the late 1820s but badly damaged
by a huricane in 1951. At the time of Emancipation
the missionary minister was the Rev. J. M.
Phillippo.
Just outside Spanish Town is Serenity
Wildlife Park and Zoo with exotic
birds, petting zoo, horseback riding, picnic
area and restaurant.
You can take the A1 north out of town to Bog
Walk and then the secondary road east through
Jackson to Sligoville, the former sumer home
of the Governor, and the first 'free village'
founded after Emancipation in 1835 when the
land was bought by the Rev. Phillippo and
made available to former slaves who wanted
to settle there.
From Spanish Town the tour continues east
on the A2. You can detour north on the small
road through Innswood to Guanaboa Vale, where
there are a number of intereting tombstones
in the church cemetery. The settlement was
the scene of an English mutiny in 1660. Close
by is Mountain River
Cave, noted for its Arawak rock
paintings.
You can return south through Springfield and
Spring Village to rejoin the A2 for the drive
through Tamarind to Old Harbour Bay where
Columbus is said to have seen manatees for
the first time, and mistaken them for mermaids.
Little Goat and Great Goat Islands lie ofshore,
and get their name from the custom of sailors
leaving goats on easily accessible islands
so there would be a fresh meat supply when
they next sailed by. Little
Goat was used by the US as a naval
base for the part of the Second World War.
North of Old Harbour is the Little Ascot Race
Course, and just to the northwest are the
ruins of Colbeck Castle. The house, at one
time the largest on the island, is believed
to have been built by Colonel John Colbeck,
an officer in Cromwell's army that took the
island in 1655. |
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