The Prospect Great House
The historic 18th Century Prospect Great House is located on the Prospect Estate on the border of Ocho Rios, St Ann and St Mary.
The exact date when the great house was built is not known but it may have been part of the early fortifications of the North Coast. The ground floor is fortified with 28 loopholes, designed to protect the house against marauding pirates and buccaneers.
Its Lineage Through Time
Francis Dennis owned the estate at the end of the 18th Century. He and his wife, Mary had two daughters. According to the Records Office in Spanish Town, Francis Dennis' last will and testament bears the date of May 30, 1792. but he actually died on December 12, 1795.
Dennis' two daughters, Eliza Jane and Maria Francis and their families owned Prospect Estate until 1875.
A Mr. Fred Dixon owned the Great House until Colonel Sir Harold Mitchell purchased the property in 1936.
Artifacts
The house is furnished with fine antique mahogany furniture. It also contains a good collection of West Indian prints and pieces of silver. Two silver tureens belonged to Alexander Earl of Balcarres, Lt. Governor of Jamaica from 1795 to 1801. He preceded Lt. General George Nugent. There are also some examples of early tortoise-shell work dating from 1672 when Sir Thomas Lynch was governor.
Of Interest
In 1952, a friend of Sir Harold, Sir Winston Churchill, then Prime Minister of Britain, along with his wife and two daughters stayed at the Great House for three weeks. It was the first visit of any British Prime Minister to the Caribbean. Sir Winston planted a mahogany tree in front of the house to commemorate his visit.
The exact date when the great house was built is not known but it may have been part of the early fortifications of the North Coast. The ground floor is fortified with 28 loopholes, designed to protect the house against marauding pirates and buccaneers.
Its Lineage Through Time
Francis Dennis owned the estate at the end of the 18th Century. He and his wife, Mary had two daughters. According to the Records Office in Spanish Town, Francis Dennis' last will and testament bears the date of May 30, 1792. but he actually died on December 12, 1795.
Dennis' two daughters, Eliza Jane and Maria Francis and their families owned Prospect Estate until 1875.
A Mr. Fred Dixon owned the Great House until Colonel Sir Harold Mitchell purchased the property in 1936.
Artifacts
The house is furnished with fine antique mahogany furniture. It also contains a good collection of West Indian prints and pieces of silver. Two silver tureens belonged to Alexander Earl of Balcarres, Lt. Governor of Jamaica from 1795 to 1801. He preceded Lt. General George Nugent. There are also some examples of early tortoise-shell work dating from 1672 when Sir Thomas Lynch was governor.
Of Interest
In 1952, a friend of Sir Harold, Sir Winston Churchill, then Prime Minister of Britain, along with his wife and two daughters stayed at the Great House for three weeks. It was the first visit of any British Prime Minister to the Caribbean. Sir Winston planted a mahogany tree in front of the house to commemorate his visit.
After Sir Harold's death in 1983, the great house and estate passed down to his descendants. The combined Prospect Great House and Plantation is now a popular tour in the area.
