Spanish Town Heritage Trail

Jago de la Vega, making it one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean

Spanish Town became the British Capital of Jamaica in 1655 and remained the Capital City of Jamaica until 1872, when Kingston became Jamaica’s Capital City. The Spanish Town Square was the administrative center of the Capital City and Jamaica for both the Spanish and the English. The square is the oldest example of the original

Spanish Square in the Western hemisphere. The Square was renamed Emancipation Square in August 1977 and is surrounded by buildings representing some of the finest examples of Georgian architecture within the region. Structures of significance in the Square are Old King’s House, which was erected in 1762- 65, and was the Governor’s residence and administrative centre. The Old Court House and Town Hall, erected in 1819 on the site of the Spanish Church of the White Cross. The House of Assembly Building (now housing the Parish Council) erected in 1762. The Memorial and Records and Archives were built to commemorate the naval victory of the English under Admiral Rodney over the French and Spanish at the Battle of the Saints in 1782. The victory of Admiral Rodney kept Jamaica from becoming a French Colony and the statue by renowned English sculptor John Bacon was erected in 1790.