Liberty Hill Great House, St. Ann
Exploring the Great Houses in the Garden Parish - Part I
by Latoya Gail
I took a refreshing break from my mundane life to go exploring with the Georgian Society – St. Ann/St. Mary chapter. We didn’t go very far, our journey kept us in the garden parish. There are so many wonderful historic buildings hidden away in the hills and though the routes to get to them were rough and rocky, it was well worth it!
Liberty Hill Plantation
The first stop was Liberty Hill Plantation on the outskirts of Lime Hall [told you ... we didn't go far!], which was originally built in the 1740's at 1200 feet from sea level and was a thriving pimento plantation. It originally had cut stone walls which were later plastered over though you can still see the outlines.
I’d been there before but this was the first time I actually went inside. I absolutely fell in love with the upstairs attic. They still had the ‘trap doors’ leading to spaces which were used to hide contraband.
It also stands as an archaeological site -- an Arawak kitchen midden was found which is thought to have been used to supply Columbus and his men with food. Other artifacts were also discovered over the years.
The garden and landscaping is lovely and I was quite captivated by it. It has undergone somewhat dramatic restoration and is now marketed as a destination for weddings, retreats and other such events. They also have a spa which uses numerous ingredients found on the property, including loofah scrubs. Finally, one cannot miss the breathtaking views!
by Latoya Gail
I took a refreshing break from my mundane life to go exploring with the Georgian Society – St. Ann/St. Mary chapter. We didn’t go very far, our journey kept us in the garden parish. There are so many wonderful historic buildings hidden away in the hills and though the routes to get to them were rough and rocky, it was well worth it!
Liberty Hill Plantation
The first stop was Liberty Hill Plantation on the outskirts of Lime Hall [told you ... we didn't go far!], which was originally built in the 1740's at 1200 feet from sea level and was a thriving pimento plantation. It originally had cut stone walls which were later plastered over though you can still see the outlines.
I’d been there before but this was the first time I actually went inside. I absolutely fell in love with the upstairs attic. They still had the ‘trap doors’ leading to spaces which were used to hide contraband.
It also stands as an archaeological site -- an Arawak kitchen midden was found which is thought to have been used to supply Columbus and his men with food. Other artifacts were also discovered over the years.
The garden and landscaping is lovely and I was quite captivated by it. It has undergone somewhat dramatic restoration and is now marketed as a destination for weddings, retreats and other such events. They also have a spa which uses numerous ingredients found on the property, including loofah scrubs. Finally, one cannot miss the breathtaking views!
Check back soon to read about the next leg of our tour -- the one great house
that I can only describe as a surreal experience.
- Latoya
that I can only describe as a surreal experience.
- Latoya
