Falmouth Historic Town

Trelawny Parish, Jamaica
1770s
Soon after the colonial town of Falmouth was laid out in the 1770s on Jamaica's north coast, it became the capital of the parish and a prosperous port from which sugar and rum were shipped to overseas destinations. Falmouth's substantial houses, shops, public buildings, and warehouses are among the finest examples of Georgian vernacular architecture in the Caribbean. The economy was once strong enough to rival Kingston, but as the port's economy faltered, it regressed to a quiet coastal town. Much of the early building stock has survived, with few alterations, but pervasive lack of maintenance has taken its toll on the town's aesthetic identity. Hurricane damage in 1988 was substantial and many buildings have yet to be repaired. Throughout the neat grid of streets, buildings can be seen near collapse, with some, such as the historic Barrett House, having succumbed. The waterfront, public landscaping, and public spaces are poorly maintained. Without a sound economic base, Falmouth will continue to stagnate. Revitalization depends, in part, on establishing Falmouth, with its important cultural resources, as a major tourist destination in Jamaica.