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.
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.
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. The
Jamaican government has honored
two Maroon leaders, Queen Nanny
and Cudjoe, by making them National
Heroes of Jamaica.
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. The
Jamaican government has honored
two Maroon leaders, Queen Nanny
and Cudjoe, by making them National
Heroes of Jamaica.
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.
Whitfield Hall
Blue Mountain Coffee Farm & Lodging
St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica
+1.876.878.0514
bookings@whitfieldhall.com
St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica
+1.876.878.0514
bookings@whitfieldhall.com
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