Bellefield Great House
If you want to experience Jamaica at its best, don’t miss the “BELLEFIELD GREATHOUSE EXPERIENCE”. This exciting explosion of “island life” is located on the privately owned Barnett Estate. Be transported back in history as you sample of freshly pressed cane juice, taste our age-old rums, and tempt your disbuds with our spicy “jerk” chicken and coconut milk. Step into our past as you explore our 300-year old great house and enjoy the breathtaking view of our 3,000acre estate, all just minutes away from Montego Bay.
The Bellefield “Taste of Jamaica” tour shows a little seen side of Jamaica’s culture and heritage. Every experience at Bellefield is as authentically Jamaican as possible and shows visitors to our beautiful island another side of Jamaica. An experience not soon forgotten
Florence Hil
Florence Hall in Trelawny, Jamaica is one of the prettiest Great Houses. There is an excellent drawing dating from 1982 in JAMAICAN HOUSES, a Vanishing Legacy which may still be available. It presently belongs to Henry Fullerton/Trafalgar Development Bank and is rapidly deteriorating to the point of no return. There are a number of interesting outbuilding at the rear, including a brick kitchen
This was an 1103 acre sugar estate and it had its own wharf at Rock. This seems astonishing when you visit this arid area today: in fact the whole of the coast line (eg Harmony Hall, Spring) seems too dry for cane production. Has there been a dramatic fall in the rainfall or the water table?
An experience not to be missed!The story of this particular family begins in 1655, when the British gained control of the island of Jamaica, driving out the Spanish who had occupied Jamaica for over 150 years. From ancient family records it has been established that the first member of the family line to arrive in Jamaica was one of the Kerr clan of Scotland who came as part of the British fleet under Admiral Penn and Captain Venables when the British captured Jamaica from Spain in 1655.
Rhodes Hall Plantation
Enjoy horseback riding along the beautiful beach, into the Caribbean or through the breath taking mountains in the parish of Hanover approximately 30 minutes from Negril. Rhodes Hall Plantation has been in continuous operation since the 1700's when its principal products were sugar cane and rum. Copies of original shipping tallys are available for viewing as old as 1767 with originals still intact at the hall of records in Spanish Town. A number of cauldrons dot the property, originally used by slaves who worked at boiling down the sugar cane.
Various artifacts and implements from the era have been discovered and preserved for display. The little piece of road that runs along the beach is part of the original paved roadway system built in Jamaica that ran from Montego Bay to Negril and survives today as an internal access road. The Rhodes name comes from the British Family that originally owned the plantation. Even before the Rhodes family burst onto the scene, the location is steeped in pirate history. We are just 5 miles east of Bloody Bay, given the name because pirates used to slaughter whales there the water ran bloody. That is were the famous pirate, Calico Jack was captured.
Rose Hall
Rose Hall is a former sugar plantation located between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. It provides a unique focus on Jamaica’s history and culture by bringing to life the grandeur of 18th century plantation living. The Great House was formerly the home of Annie Palmer, the white witch of Rose Hall. Dead for over 100 years, her legend still evokes memories of her monstrous reign as the mistress of The Great House.
All three of her husbands met their death at her hands, while countless slaves suffered as a result of her ruthlessness. Her evil reign ended with her murder in 1831. Rose Hall offers visitors a complete spectrum of Jamaica’s past and present, including cane fields, farms, waterfalls, modern luxury villas, resort hotels, gold courses and miles of white sandy beaches. Your tour also includes a visit to Annie’s Pub in the dungeon of The Great House, one of the most charming taverns in the Caribbean approximately 1.5 hours from Negril.
