Caribbean TTG Features G
rand and gracious, the great houses of the Caribbean stand as a historic testament to times past when these
islands were European colonies and covered in plantations. Today, those that have survived the ravages of the tropical West Indian climate offer a fascinating window into an infamous era of Empire, colonialism and slavery. Here’s a collection of some of the most fascinating great houses and plantation houses that help bring the past alive.
Jamaica Rose Hall Great House This is Jamaica’s most notorious great house, thanks to the exploits of its former owner Annie Palmer, known as the White Witch. This imposing mansion, dating from 1770, is filled with tales of witchcraft and voodoo; of stories about Annie’s reign of terror when she murdered her three husbands and numerous slave lovers. She met a grisly end, reputedly murdered by one of her lovers during a slave uprising and her ghost is said to haunt the house. Over the years, Rose Hall fell into
Bewitched by the past
Great houses offer a fascinating insight into Caribbean history and culture. Sara Macefield picks a selection to visit
The tranquil exterior of Jamaica’s Rose Hall Great House hides a bloody past
disrepair, but has been restored and is a popular draw for tourists who can take a guided tour of the house with its collection of 18th-century colonial furnishings. Entertaining night-time re-enactments of Annie’s life are held. Several tour operators work with
local ground-handlers to offer tours. Local companies include Chukka Caribbean (
chukkacaribbean.com) and Paradise Vacations (
paradisevacationsjamaica.com). Entry: $20 adults; $10 children ■
rosehall.com
Greenwood Great House One of the best-preserved great houses in Jamaica, this stately pile was once owned by the Barretts of Wimpole Street – the family of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. They were one of the original European settlers and by the 1750s, owned more than 84,000 acres of land and more than 2,000 slaves. While some members of the family (including Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s father Edward) went to live in England in 1795, his cousin Richard remained in Jamaica, becoming Speaker of the House of Assembly and a
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