Falmouth Jamaica
Falmouth was created in 1970 from seaside land owned by the famous English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s grandfather, Edward Moulton Barrett and was named after Falmouth, Cornwall which was the birthplace of then British governor William Trelawny. It became the capital of the parish of St. James (of which Trelawny was once a part), in the 1790s, thus taking over from the town of Martha Brae in a move sanctioned by the Parish Council (then known as the Vestry). Most of the land was sold to Barrett’s planter friends and donated for the building of a courthouse, church and public gardens. Barrett kept only the waterfront for himself.
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Jamaica was the leading sugar producer of the world. As a result Falmouth flourished as a market center and port for forty years. As it was one of the busiest ports in Jamaica, many people from different cultural, racial and financial backgrounds made home in Falmouth, a wealthy town in a wealthy parish.
The Falmouth we know it today has a population of 7,779 people. A new $180 million port was built there to accommodate the newest and largest class of cruise ships, the Oasis Class, and opened in early 2011. It includes a two-berth pier, retail shops and restaurants, and a transportation center. Cruise ships from all over dock in Falmouth multiple times every month. Located 30 mins from Montego Bay and from the Donald Sangster International Airport Falmouth is full of attractions for every member of the family.
For the historian Falmouth has a number of interesting historic buildings in the Jamaican Georgian architectural style. These include the Falmouth Court House, St Peter’s Anglican Church (one of the oldest and largest in Jamaica), Falmouth All-Age School (housed in a former army barracks Fort Balcarres), Greenwood Great House, Falmouth Post Office. For those who are more adventurous kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving are offered to visitors and their families. If you want an educational tour or just want to see more of the island tours to Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Other attractions include bird watching in the Cockpit Country (one of Jamaica’s top bird watching habitats), rafting on Martha Brae, Falmouth Heritage Tour, Falmouth Food Tour, and a visit to the Falmouth Jewish Cemetery.
The port is special because it has the capacity to welcome two cruise ships at a time. Since each ship can hold several thousand passengers it is safe to say that Falmouth gets thousands of visitors per month. Once off the ship, visitors pass through customs and immigrations facilities before being let loose on the local attractions. What makes Falmouth special is the rich history having the most Georgian style buildings in the West Indies, its convenient location being a short distance from both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and the local flavor that comes from the food, people, markets and shops. Falmouth is in everyone’s good book even Prince Harry’s so at least visit once or pass up an amazing adventure.
