The History of Whitfield Hall
The story of Whitfield Hall began when Jamaica was a British colony, in
the late eighteenth century. King George III was on the English throne and
five European nations competed for land across the West Indies. Men and
women from England, Spain, France, Holland, and Denmark ventured
across the Atlantic in search of an earthly paradise -- and easy money.
Not all Europeans who immigrated to the islands were wealthy. Most were
not accustomed to the finer things in life and had eagerly sailed to the
West Indies to make their fortunes. In fact, most of the islands' plantocracy
epitomized the definition of "nouveau riche" long before the phrase
became part of the general parlance.
(from Caribbean Elegance by Michael Connors)
One of these characters was an Englishman by the name of Colonel
William Whitfield, who in 1776 was granted a Crown patent to grow coffee
on 300 acres in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Colonel Whitfield set
about establishing an estate that he called -- very modestly -- "Whitfield
Hall."
The story of Whitfield Hall began when Jamaica was a British colony, in
the late eighteenth century. King George III was on the English throne and
five European nations competed for land across the West Indies. Men and
women from England, Spain, France, Holland, and Denmark ventured
across the Atlantic in search of an earthly paradise -- and easy money.
Not all Europeans who immigrated to the islands were wealthy. Most were
not accustomed to the finer things in life and had eagerly sailed to the
West Indies to make their fortunes. In fact, most of the islands' plantocracy
epitomized the definition of "nouveau riche" long before the phrase
became part of the general parlance.
(from Caribbean Elegance by Michael Connors)
One of these characters was an Englishman by the name of Colonel
William Whitfield, who in 1776 was granted a Crown patent to grow coffee
on 300 acres in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Colonel Whitfield set
about establishing an estate that he called -- very modestly -- "Whitfield
Hall."
During the Colonel's time he had a Great House (a colonial
plantation house) and an overseer's house built, as well as
other structures. Fires were a constant problem in this era,
and the Great House eventually burned to the ground. Then
the overseer's house along with a small annex (pictured left)
was adapted as the "Great House," and it remains the main
house on the property to this day.
The only thing that remains of the original Great House is a
cleared piece of land. There is a story that on a particular
night of the year, if the moon is in a certain phase, you can
see a ghostly outline of the foundations.
This isn't much known about the first owner, Colonel Whitfield. To the
best of our knowledge, he never married or had children, and so
Whitfield Hall didn't remain in the Whitfield family after his death.
There are a few vestiges of the colonial past around the property, such
as a water cistern dating from "slavery days." There is little evidence of
the African men and women who must have planted and picked coffee at
Whitfield Hall -- the small structures or "quarters" where they lived are
long gone. The memory of slavery in Jamaica remains a bitter thing for
the people of the Blue Mountains. Some of the people who work at
Whitfield today would rather slavery wasn't mentioned on this website at
all.
best of our knowledge, he never married or had children, and so
Whitfield Hall didn't remain in the Whitfield family after his death.
There are a few vestiges of the colonial past around the property, such
as a water cistern dating from "slavery days." There is little evidence of
the African men and women who must have planted and picked coffee at
Whitfield Hall -- the small structures or "quarters" where they lived are
long gone. The memory of slavery in Jamaica remains a bitter thing for
the people of the Blue Mountains. Some of the people who work at
Whitfield today would rather slavery wasn't mentioned on this website at
all.
While planters like Colonel
Whitfield tried to make their
fortunes cultivating coffee in
the Blue Mountains, African
men and women in Jamaica
were rising up against the
brutality of slavery.
The Blue Mountain Maroons
were especially brilliant at
frustrating the British colonial
system, and their continued
resistance helped bring about
emancipation in the 1830's.
Whitfield tried to make their
fortunes cultivating coffee in
the Blue Mountains, African
men and women in Jamaica
were rising up against the
brutality of slavery.
The Blue Mountain Maroons
were especially brilliant at
frustrating the British colonial
system, and their continued
resistance helped bring about
emancipation in the 1830's.
Finally, the Allgroves' son John, who was born in Jamaica,
was able to lease Whitfield Hall in 1964 and later purchased
the property. He has worked tirelessly to restore the house
and cultivate "estate" quality Blue Mountain coffee. John and
his wife Maureen even spent part of their honeymoon painting
the roof of Whitfield Hall. Their children, Zickie, Tanya, and
Deanne were able to grow up in this wonderful section of
Jamaica. And now the Allgroves' two grandchildren look
forward to seeing you in the Blue Mountains -- sometime
soon!
was able to lease Whitfield Hall in 1964 and later purchased
the property. He has worked tirelessly to restore the house
and cultivate "estate" quality Blue Mountain coffee. John and
his wife Maureen even spent part of their honeymoon painting
the roof of Whitfield Hall. Their children, Zickie, Tanya, and
Deanne were able to grow up in this wonderful section of
Jamaica. And now the Allgroves' two grandchildren look
forward to seeing you in the Blue Mountains -- sometime
soon!
In 1840 Whitfield Hall was mentioned in the Jamaican
Almanac as an estate that was owned by Thomas Leigh
and consisted of 380 acres. Whitfield Hall was also listed
in the 1891-1892 Handbook of Jamaica and the 1900
Handbook of Jamaica as a coffee estate in the parish of
St. Thomas owned by Captain DeBonniot Spencer Heaven.
Whitfield Hall was also described in an 1908 book, Guide
to the West Indies and the Bermudas. The author wrote:
"While some hardy travellers choose to pass the night on
the Peak (and if this be done blankets and cooking
utensils should form part of the equipment, as well as a
mule for transport), it will be wiser to rest at Whitfield Hall a
quaint old manor-house built, it is said, more than 200
years ago. Oddly enough, this ideal residence so near to
the clouds has been (and we hope still is) occupied by
Captain Heaven, whose ancestor built the original
structure." This mention in the guidebook is the first we've
ever heard of Captain Heaven's ancestor building Whitfield
Hall -- another mystery to investigate!
Since the days of Colonel Whitfield, the original acreage
has passed through many hands, and in the 20th century,
it was divided into parcels.
From 1925 to 1936 an English couple, the Allgroves,
rented Whitfield Hall from a Mr.Beresford and later
attempted to buy the property. The deal fell through, much
to their disappointment, and the Beresford estate sold
Whitfield to a Mrs. Dorothea Simmons in 1946. Another
family, the Abrikians, owned the property after Mrs.
Simmons.
Almanac as an estate that was owned by Thomas Leigh
and consisted of 380 acres. Whitfield Hall was also listed
in the 1891-1892 Handbook of Jamaica and the 1900
Handbook of Jamaica as a coffee estate in the parish of
St. Thomas owned by Captain DeBonniot Spencer Heaven.
Whitfield Hall was also described in an 1908 book, Guide
to the West Indies and the Bermudas. The author wrote:
"While some hardy travellers choose to pass the night on
the Peak (and if this be done blankets and cooking
utensils should form part of the equipment, as well as a
mule for transport), it will be wiser to rest at Whitfield Hall a
quaint old manor-house built, it is said, more than 200
years ago. Oddly enough, this ideal residence so near to
the clouds has been (and we hope still is) occupied by
Captain Heaven, whose ancestor built the original
structure." This mention in the guidebook is the first we've
ever heard of Captain Heaven's ancestor building Whitfield
Hall -- another mystery to investigate!
Since the days of Colonel Whitfield, the original acreage
has passed through many hands, and in the 20th century,
it was divided into parcels.
From 1925 to 1936 an English couple, the Allgroves,
rented Whitfield Hall from a Mr.Beresford and later
attempted to buy the property. The deal fell through, much
to their disappointment, and the Beresford estate sold
Whitfield to a Mrs. Dorothea Simmons in 1946. Another
family, the Abrikians, owned the property after Mrs.
Simmons.
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Whitfield Hall
Blue Mountain Coffee & Lodging
St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica
+1.876.878.0514
bookings@whitfieldhall.com
St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica
+1.876.878.0514
bookings@whitfieldhall.com