Local Information
Mandeville is the capital of Jamaica's Manchester parish. In 2005 the town had an estimated population of 50,000 and including the immediate suburbs within a radius of 16 km (10 miles) the total population is about 72,000. It is located on an inland plateau at an altitude of 628 m (2061 feet), and is 103 km (64 miles) west of Kingston. It is the only parish capital of Jamaica not located on the coast or on a major river.
Panorama of Mandeville viewed looking North from Bloomfield Great House restaurant
Mandeville has a town square, parish church and clock tower, and many large, elegant early nineteenth-century houses line the winding streets in the town centre. The grassy square is somewhat like a village green and Mandeville has been described as the most English town in Jamaica. In the suburbs of the town many large houses have been built by returning residents from North America and the United Kingdom on an ad-hoc basis. Developers have complemented these with large housing developments, some of which are constructed as gated communities. Prominent suburbs and surrounding villages include Ingleside, Knockpatrick, Clover, Waltham, Bloomfield, Caledonia Meadows, Brumalia, Greenvale and Marshalls Pen. Mandeville is a major commercial centre, and is the location of Northern Caribbean University (formerly West Indies College), a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning.
History
The town was laid out in 1816 and named after Viscount Mandeville, the eldest son of the Duke of Manchester who was then governor of Jamaica.
Many of the original buildings can still be seen such as the courthouse, an impressive building of cut limestone with a horseshoe staircase and a raised portico supported by Doric columns and built in 1820. The oldest dwelling is the rectory beside the courthouse, also built in 1820. Many of Jamaica's businesses were started in Mandeville; the Mandeville Hotel, one of the oldest in the Caribbean, began operations in 1875. Its golf club, founded as the Manchester Golf Club in 1868, was the first golf course in the Caribbean. It has the first "Free Library" in Jamaica was established in 1938, and is the oldest Parish Library. The growth of the town was given a substantial stimulus when the Alcan Bauxite Company in a joint venture with the Jamaican Government opened its Kirkvine works nearby at Williamsfield in 1957. It built houses at Mandeville for its then mostly expatriate staff. The relatively high wages lured many educated Jamaicans there. Subsequently the town has seen an influx of Jamaican residents returning from abroad.
Cashoo Ostrich Park : This 100-acre working ostrich farm is situated on the Black River. You can boat on the river, fish in ponds or visit a medicinal herb garden. Lover's Leap : This sheer 1,700-foot cliff drops straight into the sea and provides a beautiful view of the coastline. A miniature farm demonstrates the dry farming technique used in this area. One can also go hiking in the hills Legend has it that at this site a pair of lovers, escaped slaves, leapt to their deaths rather than face capture. Based on the Jamaican legend, the novel Lovers Leap was written by Horane Smith, who was born near the South Coast attraction.
Marshall's Pen : Nature lovers flock to Mandeville, and a top birding spot is Marshalls Pen, operated by ornithologist Robert Sutton. Nearly 100 species have been recorded on this cattle farm and around its great houses. Of the 25 bird species endemic to Jamaica, all but two are found in the Marshalls Pen area.
Ys Falls : These spectacular waterfalls cascade in steps through tropical forest. At the top, swimmers enjoy clear waters under a canopy of ferns. Why is this falls named YS? The shortest place name in Jamaica has been long debated. Some believe it comes the Gaelic word wyess (winding or twisting). Others say the name comes from a combination of the initials of the lands 1684 owners: John Yates and Lt. Col. Richard Scott. The land YS Estate has a long history. The property went into bankruptcy and was held by the Encumbered Estates Court in London for some time. The great-uncle of the present owners travelled to London in 1887 to purchase a property in St Ann; once he arrived he learned it had already been sold and he purchased YS. For years, the 8,000-acre farm grew sugarcane, raised cattle and sold logwood trees to Holland, where they were used for making dye. Today there are still some logwood trees along the farm's fence lines. The farm covers about 2,500 acres and raises Jamaican red Poll cattle and thoroughbred racehorses; you'll also see many papayas grown on the plantation for export.