Falmouth, Jamaica

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Falmouth is the chief town and capital of Trelawny parish, Jamaica. Falmouth, capital of the Parish of Trelawny, is situated on Jamaica's north coast near Montego Bay. Founded by Thomas Reid in 1769, Falmouth flourished as a county seat and market center for the Parish of Trelawny for forty years. Jamaica had become the world's leading sugar producer. The town was named after the birthplace of His Excellency Sir William Trelawny, Falmouth, Cornwall, Britain, and is noted for being one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved historic towns.

Falmouth compares well with Colonial Williamsburg , Virginia, in the United States. Falmouth was meticulously planned from the start, with wide streets in a regular grid, adequate water supply, and public buildings. Interestingly, Falmouth received piped water before New York City.

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[edit] History

During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Falmouth was one of the busiest ports in Jamaica. It was home to masons, carpenters, tavern-keepers, mariners, planters and others. It was a wealthy town in a wealthy parish with a rich racial mix. This was the heyday of King Sugar. Within the parish, nearly one hundred plantations were actively manufacturing sugar and rum for export to Britain. Jamaica had become the world's leading sugar producer.

All the above made Falmouth a central hub of the slave trade and the now notorious cross-Atlantic triangular trade, with its economy largely based on slavery. In Falmouth Harbor as many as 30 tall-ships could be seen on any given day, many of them delivering slaves transported under inhumane conditions from Africa and loading their holds with rum and sugar manufactured by slave labor on nearby plantations.

As a result, starting in 1840, Falmouth’s fortunes as a commercial center declined after the emanciaption of slaves in the British Empire. This decline and lack of support for development has left many of its early buildings standing. The streets are lined with many small houses known for their unique fretwork and windows, major merchant and planter complexes, and commercial buildings, all dating from 1790 to 1840.

While Falmouth saw little commercial advancement after the 1840’s, houses continued to be built. The town’s buildings, the old and the not so old, make up the historic townscape of Falmouth. These shared characteristics weave the varied building styles into a distinctive pattern of early Jamaican architecture, and a critical mass of each variety makes the town an unusually distinctive place.

Places of interest include: the Albert George Shopping and Historical Centre, dating from 1895; the former residence of slave owner John Tharp; the town house of plantation owner Edward Barrett; and the St Peter’s Anglican Church, built in 1795.

[edit] Sights

  • Greenwood Great House Greenwood Great House is the finest antique museum in the Caribbean and indeed the greatest Great House in Jamaica. It has retained the atmosphere of the 19th century. It was built during an era of elegance and brutality. It has continued to capture the imagination of its visitors. No other attraction in the Caribbean has a larger authentic collection. Greenwood has the largest and rarest collection of musical instruments in the island. The house once belonged to the Barretts of Wimpole Street London (related to Elizabeth Barrett-Browning).
  • Martha Brae Rafters' Village Take an exhilarating river ride on a 30 foot bamboo raft and be captivated by the intriguing legend of Martha's Gold hidden away in a mysterious cave yet to be discovered. The 3 mile raft ride, piloted by a trained Raft Captain relaxes your mind and body as it renews your spirit. Revive your love for nature's beauty evidenced in picturesque snapshots during the 90-minute journey through the verdant countryside of a tropical splendor.
  • St Peter's Anglican Church St. Peter's, after an 1842 extension stands as one of the largest Anglican churches in Jamaica. Its supporting columns are of solid mahogany and its floor includes crosses inlaid with mahoe and mahogany. Graves spanning over 200 years grace its cemetery.
  • The Falmouth All-Age School A former army barracks which now (with new construction and improvements) serves as school.

[edit] Infrastructural Development

  • There are plans to construct a multi-million dollar crusie ship port for berthing of the newest and largest class of cruise ships, the Genesis Class, which is now under construction.[1]
  • Falmouth was the site of the opeining ceremony for the ICC 2007 Cricket World Cup. The ceremony was held in the newly constrcuted Greenfield Stadium about 3 miles from the town centre.[2]

[edit] Notable people from Falmouth

The following Falmouth natives have had a significant impact on the cultural or socio-political landscape of Jamaica:

[edit] Articles on Falmouth

Boom Town of the 19th Century [1] By Dr. Rebecca Tortello

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jamaica Gleaner News - Falmouth to get new port - Tuesday | March 25, 2008
  2. ^ Falmouth gets its chance today - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM

[edit] External links

Falmouth Heritage Renewal's mission is to preserve and restore the historic buildings of Falmouth, Jamaica while making the lives of the people who live there better. Falmouth Heritage Renewal is a United States-based non-profit organization.

Hands Across Trelawny, Inc. (HAT) is a corporation made up of sons and daughters of Trelawny, and descendants of the same, whose charter is to assist in the betterment of Trelawny.

It is the mission of the organization to pursue opportunities whereby we can ensure that Trelawny's history, heritage and diversity will be sustained. Through meaningful and realistic ventures, it is our objective to make an impact that will facilitate productivity and prosperity in our home parish for those at home and abroad.

Hands across Trelawny is a United States-based non-profit organization.

Link to Hotels in Falmouth

Coordinates: 18°30′N, 77°39′W

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