 | ||
| May Pen | ||
| Parish | Clarendon | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 58.000 | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
| ||
May Pen is a city in Jamaica.
background
This agricultural trading town was founded in the 1660s on a shallow ford of the Rio Minho River. In the area there is cattle and poultry farming, in the north there is a large orange-growing area.
May Pen is a transportation hub. The city is located at the intersection of two major highways. The A 2 runs from west to east from Negril to Spanish Town, from north to south the B 3 comes from Discovery Bay and leads south of May Pen into the aluminum ore area around Hayes to Lionel Town. The city also has a landmark. This is a stone clock tower at the intersection of Main Street and Sevens Road. However, this was only built after World War II, but its construction is based on the old colonial architecture.
Economically, May Pen is the focal point of the region, but May Pen also has a lot to offer culturally. For example, one of the largest markets in Jamaica takes place in May Pen every Friday and Saturday. The Denbigh Agricultural Show takes place in July / August, where the island's farmers present their products. The supporting program is accompanied by live music and dance parties. A great musician was born there: Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, front man of the group "Toots and the Maytals" an early reggae and ska group.
getting there
In the street
May Pen is halfway between Mandeville and Spanish Town. In terms of tourism, the place has absolutely nothing to offer, except traffic chaos when there is a market on Friday and Saturday. So there is no shame in driving past the place on the bypass, the "Sir Alexander Bustamante Highway".
mobility
Petrol stations:
- Esso, 54 Main Street. Tel.: 986-2281.
- Total, 4 Weston Park. Tel.: 786-3045.
Tourist Attractions
- Denbigh Agriculture Show Grounds, Main Street. Tel.: 902-3011, 986-9014. Denbigh is located on the western outskirts of May Pen. Around 1780 this was a large sugar cane plantation. Acacia trees, tobacco and indigo were also planted in parts. In 1941 the property was sold, divided and resold to builders as a small plot of land. 20 hectares were retained as land for a hospital. The May Pen Hospital was not built there until 1950. Another piece of land was given to the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). An agricultural show takes place there once a year. For this purpose, a central pavilion was built and more for each administrative district, there are open-air facilities for keeping animals, fish ponds and open spaces for short-term construction. Over the years a number of rooms have been created there for various organizations. In addition to the offices of the JAS, the Ministry of Agriculture, the national water authority, the RADA Chamber of Agriculture, the "School of Hope", a 4-H Club training center, but also private companies such as Grace Kennedy and Nestle are represented.
- Halse Hall Great House, Halse Hall. Tel.: 986-2561. After the British took possession of the island in 1655, the army officer Major Thomas Halse received a piece of land south of May Pen. He raised pigs and cows there and built a house. It formed the center of the plantation and was walled for reasons of defense. Until his death in 1702 it consisted only of the lowest floor. One of the heirs, Francis S. Halse, had a second floor built at the end of the 1740s and a new entrance with stairs and columns. Today the property is owned by the aluminum smelter. It is used for events and the accommodation of VIPs. Visits are possible by appointment.
- Car races are held at the World War II airfield south of May Pen at Vernam Field.
shop
- Fairway supermarket, 77 Manchester Avenue. Tel.: 902-0156.
- Floyd's supermarket, 25 Main Street. Tel.: 986-2422.
- House of Style Boutique, 16-A Manchester Avenue. Tel.: 986-2309.
- Ming's supermarket, 24-B Main Street. Tel.: 986-2489.
- Phillip's supermarket, 25 Main Street. Tel.: 986-2279.
- Shoppers Fair Supermarket, 35 Main Street. Tel.: 986-6014.
- Super plus center, 21 Sevens Road. Tel.: 986-6298.
Shopping centers:
- Apollo Plaza, Main Street.
- Bargin Village Shopping Center, 35 Main Street.
- May Pen Arcade, Brilants Crescent.
- New Castle Plaza, 2 Stanley Street.
- Shopping Mall & Trading Towers, Main Street, across from the clock tower.
kitchen
- Blue Diamond Pub & Fish Spot, 51 Hazard Drive. Tel.: 902-7595.
- Burger King, 51 Main Street. Tel.: 902-5025.
- KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken, Apollo Plaza. Tel.: 986-4328.
- McKenzie's Bamboo Jerk Center, Palmer's Cross. Tel.: 786-0482.
- Roti Hut at Zipp Cafeteria, 31 Main Street. Tel.: 986-2308.
- Silver Spoon Restaurant, 4 Manchester Avenue. Tel.: 986-4534.
- Tastee, Main Street. Tel.: 902-6818.
health
- May Pen Hospital, Manchester avenue. Tel.: 986-6307.
- Denbigh Clinic, Denbigh. Tel.: 902-7048.
Practical advice
Banks:
- First Caribbean International Bank, 50 Main Street. Tel.: 986-2578.
Police:
Post Office:
- Post office, Sevens Road. Tel.: 986-2302.
Internet café:
- Dragon Space, 24-A Main Street. Tel.: 902-1964. Open: Opening times: Mon - Thu 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Rayco's Internet Café, 2 West Park Avenue and Glenmuir Main Road. Tel.: 986-7322.
