Spanish Town, Jamaica

Spanish Town is located on the western outskirts of Kingston and was once the capital of Jamaica. First under Spanish rule and then English, Spanish Town is the birth ground of history in Jamaica. The centre of the town is awash with fantastic examples of both Regency architecture and Spanish influence. Visitors can enjoy St James cathedral built in 1523, the oldest Anglican Church outside of England or take in Old Kings House, the former British Governors residence that played host to guests such as Lord Nelson and Captain Bligh.

St. Jago de la Vega or Spanish Town once the capital city of Jamaica in the parish of St. Catherine has the finest collection of historical buildings, and the country's archives. Built on the West Bank of the Rio Cobre the town lies thirteen miles from Kingston on the main road. As a site of historical importance, its history was shaped by its experiences within two significant colonial periods. These periods are the Spanish from 1534 -1655 and the English from 1655 -1782.

In 1534 under the direction of the King of Spain this area was declared the capital of Jamaica and named "The Villa de la Vega" (The Town on the Plain).

From its foundation Spanish Town became the center of Jamaican life and history. A lively commercial route was organized under Spanish administration, between Jamaica, Spain and other Spanish territories. In addition to the commercial activities that went on in Spanish Town, a formal political structure was established under Spanish government.

Spanish town is also home to the Jamaican Museum of Crafts and Technology and a vibrant market in the central square.

Spanish Town is a great place for visitors the island to get a sense of the history of Jamaica but travellers should express a certain amount of caution and alertness as this can be a fairly rough part of the island.

Old Iron Bridge

Spanish Town is home to an early cast-iron bridge, designed by Thomas Wilson and manufactured by Walker and Company of Rotherham, England. Spanning the Rio Cobre, the bridge was erected in 1801 at a cost of £4,000. Its four arched ribs are supported on massive masonry abutments. After the abutments deteriorated, endangering the structure, it was listed in the 1998 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund.

A restoration project began in 2004, with funding provided by American Express through the World Monuments Fund.[4] Nevertheless, progress was slow until 2008, when a renewed restoration effort was made. A first phase of restoration was completed in April 2010, when the repair of the abutments allowed the bridge to be reopened for the public. More recently, violence has prevented the bridge from achieving the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Official website of the Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies: http://www.spanishtownjamaica.com/