The Architecture
Jamaican Georgian architecture, with its emphasis on light and air, is ideally suited to the climate of the West Indies. It has the style and charm of its eighteenth century origins, with features added to suit the tropics. Its utility and grace not only appear in the design of great houses and civic buildings, but is also the vernacular for the average modest building. The ups and downs of the nation’s economy and changes in building materials and methods of construction had resulted in little continuity of development of design from Georgian to modern times. Often there were few good architects on the island so no sympathetic bridging of the periods took place.
In these days, there is a strong worldwide movement to record and preserve heritage buildings, furniture, prints and other artifacts from the past and membership in the Society should prove to be interesting and stimulating.
About the Georgian Society
The Georgian Society of Jamaica was started in 1967 out of concern for the destruction and neglect of period buildings in all parts of the island. Those were frequently replaced by structures of poor design and little character, the pleasing and practical details of Georgian architecture having been largely forgotten or misunderstood.
The Society’s local chapters take a special interest in an area, parish, town or even a single landmark building.
From time to time, events featuring the cultural aspects of life in the period, Jamaica
Circa 1730 – 1850, are organised for the entire society but each chapter arranges its own field trips. Currently, there are four chapters, viz: Kingston, St.Ann/St.Mary,
Falmouth-Trelawny and St. James. Our first published project was an illustrated history of Falmouth – “FALMOUTH 1790 – 1970.”
We urge you to support the objectives of the Society in the interest of your community and of Jamaica. We shall then help to pass on to future generations important parts of our heritage which will be a continual delight to both Jamaicans and their visitors.
Occasionally, special fund-raising activities are arranged, the proceeds from which are donated to a special restoration project in any part of the island. Those restoration projects must, of course, be of public buildings such as churches, monuments, clocks etc.
Membership dues are outlined below:
SUPPORTING MEMBER…………………………… JMD $5,000 per annum
CORPORATE MEMBERS………………………….. JMD $3,000 per annum
PERSONAL MEMBERSHIP …………………….. JMD $1,500 per annum
STUDENT MEMBER……………………………..… JMD $300 per annum
OVERSEAS MEMBER…………………………. .... GBP 10 OR USD $20 per annum
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Contributed by Pauline Simmonds, Secretary of the Jamaica Georgian Society
Jamaican Georgian architecture, with its emphasis on light and air, is ideally suited to the climate of the West Indies. It has the style and charm of its eighteenth century origins, with features added to suit the tropics. Its utility and grace not only appear in the design of great houses and civic buildings, but is also the vernacular for the average modest building. The ups and downs of the nation’s economy and changes in building materials and methods of construction had resulted in little continuity of development of design from Georgian to modern times. Often there were few good architects on the island so no sympathetic bridging of the periods took place.
In these days, there is a strong worldwide movement to record and preserve heritage buildings, furniture, prints and other artifacts from the past and membership in the Society should prove to be interesting and stimulating.
About the Georgian Society
The Georgian Society of Jamaica was started in 1967 out of concern for the destruction and neglect of period buildings in all parts of the island. Those were frequently replaced by structures of poor design and little character, the pleasing and practical details of Georgian architecture having been largely forgotten or misunderstood.
The Society’s local chapters take a special interest in an area, parish, town or even a single landmark building.
From time to time, events featuring the cultural aspects of life in the period, Jamaica
Circa 1730 – 1850, are organised for the entire society but each chapter arranges its own field trips. Currently, there are four chapters, viz: Kingston, St.Ann/St.Mary,
Falmouth-Trelawny and St. James. Our first published project was an illustrated history of Falmouth – “FALMOUTH 1790 – 1970.”
We urge you to support the objectives of the Society in the interest of your community and of Jamaica. We shall then help to pass on to future generations important parts of our heritage which will be a continual delight to both Jamaicans and their visitors.
Occasionally, special fund-raising activities are arranged, the proceeds from which are donated to a special restoration project in any part of the island. Those restoration projects must, of course, be of public buildings such as churches, monuments, clocks etc.
Membership dues are outlined below:
SUPPORTING MEMBER…………………………… JMD $5,000 per annum
CORPORATE MEMBERS………………………….. JMD $3,000 per annum
PERSONAL MEMBERSHIP …………………….. JMD $1,500 per annum
STUDENT MEMBER……………………………..… JMD $300 per annum
OVERSEAS MEMBER…………………………. .... GBP 10 OR USD $20 per annum
______________
Contributed by Pauline Simmonds, Secretary of the Jamaica Georgian Society
