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| Morant Bay | ||
| Parish | St. Thomas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10.000 | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Morant Bay is a city in Jamaica.
background
The administration of the district of St. Thomas is housed in this small town founded by the Spaniards. The whole circle on the southern slopes of the Blue Mountains is one of the least developed areas of the island. There is little industry and no tourism. The high mountains keep the clouds out, in the western half it is so dry, there you come across large fields with cacti. Accordingly, it looks poor in Morant Bay. The market is held along the main street. The first church was built by the Spaniards shortly after 1500, and the main Anglican church from 1865 now stands in its place.
The place is only significant because of its history, the so-called Morant Bay Rebellion. In 1865 there were riots with over 430 dead, around 1,600 houses went up in flames. It was not until 90 years later that a mass grave with the remains of 79 people who had been executed was found. A statue of Paul Bogle stands in memory of this today in front of the small courthouse. The courthouse burned down again in February 2007.
8 km east of Morant Bay is the fishing village of Port Morant on a deeply cut bay.
getting there
In the street
Morant Bay is east of the Morant River. The river comes straight from the Blue Mountain Mountains, is mostly dry, but quickly floods when it rains. The state road A 4 therefore make a large bend inland, where the crossing bridge finds higher banks. It runs through the place near the sea.
mobility
Minibuses and route taxis run from the Shell petrol station on the western edge of the city to Kingston - 26 miles, fare $ 2-3.
Petrol stations:
- Clarke's Taxaco. Tel.: 982-2237.
- Cool petroleum, 12 Church Street. Tel.: 982-2315.
- Morant Bay Esso, 2 Red Hills Road. Tel.: 982-2316.
Tourist Attractions
The Morant Bay courthouse is one of the most historically important buildings on the island. In October 1865, the Morant Bay Rebellion took place there, in the course of which Paul Bogle and George William Gorden and their supporters were killed. In February the building that housed administration offices burned out. There is an imposing monument to Paul Bogle in front of the house.
The Morant Bay Fort behind the courthouse was built around 1758. It was designed for 9 cannons.
shop
kitchen
accommodation
- Golden Shore Resort, 288-B Windward Drive, Lyssons. Tel.: 982-9657, 734-0923-24, Fax: 734-5239. 27 rooms, restaurant, bar, beach.Price: Prices all year round: single / double room 40-55 US $, suite 64 US $.
- Whispering Bamboo Resort, 105 Crystal Drive, retreat. Tel.: 982-2912, Fax: 734-1049. 10 cottages, restaurant, bar, beach.Price: Prices all year round: single / double room 55-90 US $ for bed and breakfast, cottage 95 US $.
health
Doctors:
Optician:
- New Vision Center, Morant Bay Shopping Center. Tel.: 734-7112, Fax: 734-7113. Open: Mon - Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Dentists:
- Morant Bay Dental Center, Shop 15-B, Morant Bay Plaza. Tel.: 982-2517.
Pharmacies:
Practical advice
Banks:
- National People's Co-Operative Bank, 45 Queen Street.
Police:
- Police department, 7 South Street. Tel.: 982-1265.
Post Office:
- Post office, Queen Street. Tel.: 982-2576.
trips
Bath Botanical Garden. In 1774, the island's first botanical garden was built in a small village on the northeastern outskirts of Kingston. A world traveler, Jamaican born in England by the name of Hinton East, brought over 600 new plant species to the island over a period of 17 years. In 1774 the island governor Sir Basil Keith arranged for the purchase of a property at Spring Garden in the parish of Gordon Town. The garden created there by Hinton East was abandoned after a few years. In 1779 the Botanical Gardens were built in Bath, 21 km northeast of Morant Bay, on the banks of the Plantain Garden River, on only 0.4 hectares of land, about 65 km east of Kingston. It is the second oldest of its kind in the western world. At first there was only one hot sulfur spring there. Their healing properties were soon recognized. Further medicinal plants were needed, so the Botanical Garden almost came into being by itself. The first director of the Botanical Garden in Bath was a Dr. Thomas Clarke, who was also a physician at the Sulfur Springs. Regular flooding of the garden by the nearby river led to soil erosion. In 1862, most of the complex was destroyed and the decision was made to create a new garden in Castleton. Because of the great distance to Kingston, the Bath Botanical Gardens and the bath with hotel are in poor condition. Due to its historical significance, however, it will continue to be maintained, and in 2007 the facilities were renovated. Opening times: daily 5.30 a.m. - 6.00 p.m., free admission.
The mineral spring was discovered in 1690 by an escaped slave. In 1699 the state bought the spring and the surrounding land. The government is currently looking for an investor for the 30 hectare hotel site, which is to be sold.
The iron lighthouse at Morant Point, the easternmost tip of the island, dates from 1841. It was built by Alexander Gordon in London, 35 meters high, with a diameter of 5 meters at the base and 3 meters at the top. It is the oldest lighthouse in Jamaica. The drive there is 7 km through sugar cane fields.
Stokes Hall Great House, Golden Grove, ruins of a manor house. The well-preserved walls of this plantation house are among the oldest preserved buildings on the island. Like many early plantation houses, it stands on a strategic hill and was well fortified. The house consisted of four square corner towers and the central building with two floors. It dates back to around 1694. The then governor of the island of NEVIS, Luke Stokes, had it built. It was damaged in the severe earthquake of 1907 and has not been preserved since then. Only the four corner towers have been preserved as ruins. The Stokes Hall plantation was 328 hectares in size.
St. Thomas Sugar Company (STSC), Duckenfield, covers a total of 1,127 hectares, of which 1,103 hectares are planted with sugar cane. At the end of June 2009, the Jamaica-owned factory was sold to Fred and Jones Estate Limited and Seprod for US $ 500,000, while the surrounding farmland is leased for 50 years. The buyers have stated that they will invest $ 2.7 million in modernization measures over the next two years.
