The Georgian Society of Jamaica's members were dressed in fine 18th-century style for the second year in a row, celebrating the time period of the four King Georges of the ancient British monarchy.
Coming from Montego Bay, Falmouth, and as far away as Cuba and Spain, the
guests congregated at the Bellefield Great House in Montego Bay on Saturday
night, clad in colourful and creative costumes styled by noted Cuban costume
designer Ernesto Castro. The festivity's site could not have been better chosen,
as the Bellefield Great House was first built in 1735 and was one of the few
great houses to escape being torched during the slave uprisings in Jamaica in
1831.
Besides displaying their era-appropriate clothing, visitors received the
opportunity to tour the great house and learn its history, and also to witness
and learn how to perform the quadrille, which was a keynote fashionable dance of
the time.
Jamaica's Georgian Society, a non-profit organisation, was started in 1967
with the mission of preserving the historical value of period buildings which
were being neglected throughout the island at the time. The organisation today
seeks to heighten awareness of Jamaican history and preserve, maintain and
restore historical sites, artefacts and monuments. Through the costume ball, its
members accomplish this by bringing awareness to the fashion styles, social
trends and architecture of the Georgian period.
All proceeds from Saturday's ball will go towards the restoration of Georgian-era
buildings in the parish of St James.
Source: Photos and article by Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer - Jamaica Gleaner
guests congregated at the Bellefield Great House in Montego Bay on Saturday
night, clad in colourful and creative costumes styled by noted Cuban costume
designer Ernesto Castro. The festivity's site could not have been better chosen,
as the Bellefield Great House was first built in 1735 and was one of the few
great houses to escape being torched during the slave uprisings in Jamaica in
1831.
Besides displaying their era-appropriate clothing, visitors received the
opportunity to tour the great house and learn its history, and also to witness
and learn how to perform the quadrille, which was a keynote fashionable dance of
the time.
Jamaica's Georgian Society, a non-profit organisation, was started in 1967
with the mission of preserving the historical value of period buildings which
were being neglected throughout the island at the time. The organisation today
seeks to heighten awareness of Jamaican history and preserve, maintain and
restore historical sites, artefacts and monuments. Through the costume ball, its
members accomplish this by bringing awareness to the fashion styles, social
trends and architecture of the Georgian period.
All proceeds from Saturday's ball will go towards the restoration of Georgian-era
buildings in the parish of St James.
Source: Photos and article by Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer - Jamaica Gleaner
