Trewlawny 250th Anniversary

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2020 4 governor. Around 1790, Falmouth took the place as the capital of Trelawny, and in its early years, the new capital was particularly quite prosperous. Several ships could be seen in the Falmouth harbour un- loading cargo and taking on sugar and rum. Falmouth even became home to prominent planters John Tharpe and Edward Barrett – two of the wealthiest planters in the 18th century. So rich and diverse is Falmouth’s heritage that in 1985, under the Jamaica Heritage Trust Act, a section of Falmouth was de- clared a Protected National Heritage Site. This section, known as the Falmouth Historic District, was de- clared a National Monument by the Government of Jamaica in 1996. Agriculture is the main focus of Trelawny’s economy. Trelawny goes down in Jamaica’s history as the parish with the most sugar estates and sugar factories. At one time, the estates numbered as many as 100, with more than 40 sugar facto- ries. By 1927, the number of estates had declined to 16, but Trelawny still produced more sugar than any other parish in the island. In the early 1900s, a fall in the price of sugar on the world market re- sulted in the decline of Trelawny’s sugar industry. Banana growing took over as the major agricultural enterprise, but today, yam is said to be the major agricultural product, with about 60 per cent of the na- tion’s total production being grown in Trelawny. Trelawny is also known for pro- ducing persons who have had a great impact on Jamaica, includ- ing Hugh Lawson Shearer, the Rev William Knibb, Guy S. Ewen, the Rev John Maxwell, Rex Nettleford, Usain Bolt, and Veronica Campbell-Brown. Trelawny also boasted its own news- papers: the Falmouth Post , the Falmouth Gazette , the Trelawny and Public Advertiser and the Trelawny Advance , the Cornwall Courier, and the Cornwall Chronicle . HISTORIC PLACES IN TRELAWNY INCLUDE: • Fort Balcarres – This fort was built in 1811 with a garrison to defend the harbour. It is now the site of the Falmouth Primary School. • William Knibb Baptist Church – Built in 1844 but was destroyed by fire in 1944 and later rebuilt in 1948. It was named after the Rev William Knibb, who was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire. He was buried in the churchyard. • Falmouth Courthouse – the courthouse was built in 1915. After a fire in 1926, it was successfully rebuilt except for a variation in the original roof line. TRELAWNY 250TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY CONTINUED FROM 3