Past Watch Site

Located near Montego Bay on Jamaica's north coast, Falmouth is the capital of the Parish of Trelawny in the county of Cornwall. Named after the birthplace of Sir William Trelawny, Governor of Jamaica (1767-1772), Falmouth is one of the Caribbean's best-preserved historic towns. Within its historic district is the largest intact collection of Georgian-period buildings in the Caribbean. The town flourished as a political and commercial center in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, serving as a busy port and center for the rum and sugar trades. From about 1840 onward, however, the town fell into a steady decline that continued until recently. A lack of support for development left many of its early buildings standing but neglected. Along with the original grid plan of the city, many small houses, merchant and planter complexes, and commercial buildings dating from about 1790 to 1840 remain in the town. These historic buildings are integral parts of Jamaica's built heritage and represent the cultural diversity and complex history of the country. Falmouth was declared a National Monument by the Jamaican government in 1996.

With the town's decline in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Falmouth's historic fabric was left largely untouched by development—but at the same time, many buildings were neglected and fell into disrepair. More recently, the town was severely battered when Hurricane Gilbert swept through the area in 1988, and harsh environmental conditions and lack of maintenance have taken their toll since then. Although the town is nestled between the tourist meccas of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Falmouth sees little benefit from tourism, as the town lacks visitor amenities and infrastructure. Although the Jamaica National Heritage Trust established guidelines to help preserve and protect the town, it remains threatened by illegal demolition and inappropriate repairs by property owners. A five-berth cruise ship terminal planned nearby also threatens the continued existence of Falmouth.

Last update: 2008