Port Maria in St. Mary is one of the prettiest country towns. Spreading out along the curve of the bay, with the Outram River running through, it looks out across the sea to tiny Cabarita island standing guard offshore. It is believed to have been the site of an early Taino settlement, and was later settled by the Spanish.
St.Thomas is located on the south east of the island. It is the most historic parish and is the birth place of freedom in Jamaica. Often considered the least scenic of the parishes, there are some surprisingly beautiful vista and interesting places…
Agualta Vale in St. Mary
No one knows what the original Agualta Vale great house looked like, or how it fell into ruin. All we know is that the estate was purchased by Englishman Thomas Hibbert, a wealthy slave merchant of Kingston, from the heirs of Benish in 1760, the year of the Tacky slave rebellion. It was a vast 3000-acre property of woodland and pasture overlooking the Wag Water Valley and Agualta River, with the sleepy town of Annotto Bay way off in the distance. Originally planted in coffee, it later became a large sugar plantation and breeding pen. It is said to be the site of one of the largest Taino burial grounds.
Since it was founded in 1992, the University Press has published over 300 high quality books and won over 60 regional awards. Categories cover 13 academic disciplines, and topics are very broad in scope. Our Editor’s Top pick is JAMAICAN FOOD by noted historian, B.W. Higman. Encyclopedic in scope, with some beautiful illustrations, it is a great reference book that delves into the history, culture and biology of Jamaican food.
