10 must-see heritage sites in picturesque, laid-back Lucea

By Claudia Gardner:

Lucea, the tiny, charming, picturesque capital of the parish of Hanover, and home to one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Western Hemisphere, is a heritage lover’s delight. 

If you have an interest in Georgian architecture, the town, which is a 25-minute drive away from Negril, is blessed with buildings of this era, some of which are among the most beautiful in the Caribbean.

If you live outside of Hanover, you are welcome at any time to come sightseeing in this westerly coastal township. Lucea has maintained its charm as a quiet close-knitted community, where everybody knows everybody, and every visitor is quite comfy.

For the most part, the buildings of historical significance as well as other heritage sites, have been well-preserved and maintained and stand in their glory.

Here are Negril Times’ top heritage sites in lovely, laid-back Lucea.

1.     Lucea Town Clock/Lucea Town Hall

The majestic Lucea Town Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in Jamaica. It looms large in Bustamante Square, in the heart of the town.   According to historical records, this Jamaican-Georgian style building was constructed around 1817.  The three-face clock which sits atop the building, is the only town clock in Jamaica which tells the correct time consistently – and has been doing so for more than 200 years. 

The story surrounding the clock is that it was destined for the island of St. Lucia, in the Eastern Caribbean.  However, the captain of the ship mistook “Lucea” which was named St. Lucea at the time, for “St. Lucia” and took the clock which was supposedly a gift from Germany for the people of St. Lucia, to Hanover.   

The citizens fell in love with the timepiece and refused to relinquish it.  In fact, so determined were they, that although they had originally ordered a less statuesque model, they gave donations to make up the difference and kept their precious clock.

A German landowner in the parish volunteered to erect the clock tower, on the condition that he determined what the design should be. As a consequence, the top of the clocktower, was sculpted in the shape of the helmets worn by the Royal Guards of Germany at the time, complete with a spike and supported by eight Corinthian columns.

   

2.     Fort Charlotte

Fort Charlotte was built in 1761 for the defence of the north north-westerly section of the island against French or Spanish invasion, during the reign of King George III of England. It was named after his Queen, Charlotte, said to be the first black queen of England.  

The fort was constructed with an accompanying barrack capable of housing 50 soldiers.  The fort had 23 embrasures for 23 guns, 20 of which were mounted, ready for war.  

During the Napoleonic Wars it was thought that the guns at the fort were insufficient to guard the harbour. And so, in 1807, three 24 pounders on traversing carriages were installed on the seaward side of the fort.

Fort Charlotte is built of rectangular cut stone and has several openings toward the sea. Inside the fort is the remains of the circular base for the rotation of guns which were placed there so that they could shoot from every possible angle.

The Artillery Store still stands and is made of cut stone. It has buttresses and a gable ended roof. A section of the fort currently forms part of the Rusea’s High School.

3.     Rusea’s High School

Established in 1777, the Rusea’s High School is the fifth-oldest high school in Jamaica.   Campus II, the junior campus, has been housed at Fort Charlotte, in what was the barracks for soldiers of the West India Regiment after the original school building which was situated in the Lucea Town Square was destroyed by fire in the 1920s.  

The school according to legend, was named in honour of Martin Rusea, a French refugee, who willed all of his estate for the establishment of a ‘free school’ in Hanover. This was done to show his gratitude for the hospitality shown to him by the people of Hanover when he was shipwrecked and washed ashore while fleeing religious persecution in France. 

Other versions say he was a plantation-owner.  Today, Rusea’s School is one of the pillars of education in the parish.

4.     Hanover Parish Church

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Also known as St. Mary’s Anglican Church, this building is believed to have been constructed around 1725.  It is the oldest building in Hanover and one of the oldest in the western end of the island. The records indicate that the first baptism took place in 1725, the first burial in 1727 and the first marriage in 1749.

5.     The old Hanover Museum

The Hanover Museum sits on the site of a prison dating back to 1776. By 1892 the two storey stone cut building had become the women’s prison and later the headquarters of the Hanover Police Division.  The police eventually relocated in 1985 after fire gutted the building. 

The building served as the Hanover Museum beginning 1991, two years after the launch of the Hanover Historical Society. The Society was a group of Hanoverians who spearheaded its restoration following the damage caused by Hurricane Gilbert. The property now houses a company of soldiers of the Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) Second Battalion the Jamaica Regiment.

6.     Noel Holmes Hospital

The Noel Holmes Hospital, was also a part of the Fort Charlotte Military Base of the West India Regiment.  It was named in honour of Medical Doctor Noel Holmes who served the parish with distinction. He was described as a lovable and humane man in the book Ascent to Mona, A short History of Jamaican Medical Care, written by Sir John S.R Golding.

7.     The Gingerbread House

With its elaborately detailed embellishment known as gingerbread trim, this building is protected by the Jamaica Natural Heritage Trust (JNHT). It is said to be a prime example of Gingerbread architecture. Haiti is credited with being the originators of Gingerbread architecture, which is said to  be an adaptation of French and Victorian architectural styles. 

8.     Malcolm Bridge

Known widely as the Riley Bridge, this centuries-old bridge, located between Johnson Town and the Riley Road community, consists of beautiful arched work made from fine stone.      

9.     Bing’s Folly

This is a shell of an old stone house.  It was built of stone which had been brought over from Bristol, England, as ballast in a ship.   

10.  The Browne Building

This old stone building on Main Street was constructed in 1862, as inscribed on its corner stone.  It used to be a warehouse owned by the Browne Brothers, Cecil and Adolphus. The siblings used it for storing and shipping goods from the wharf and piers on the waterfront, during Lucea’s heydays as a shipping port.  It now houses several small businesses.