Friends of the Georgian Society of Jamaica

The Barrett House, Falmouth

The Georgian Society of Jamaica has, since its formation in 1967, been interested in the fate of this fine Georgian building in Falmouth.
Built in 1799, it was the town house of an old Jamaica family, the Barretts. Hearcey Barrett had come out to Jamaica in Cromwell's invading army in 1655. A famous member of the family, Elizabeth Barrett-Moulton-Barrett, the poet, married another poet, Robert Browning, and the story of their romance, opposed by her father, has become the stuff of legend.

In later years the house was acquired by the Methodist Church, who are still the owners of the building, and it came to be known then as the Methodist Manse.

Soon after its formation the FGSJ joined with the GSJ in considering ways in which the Barrett House might be restored. One of the FGSJ's first efforts was to try to get emergency remedial work done on the house, at 1 Market Street, Falmouth.

In the late 1990s a private developer became interested in restoring the house, linked to the possibility of the town being developed as a heritage centre but currently neither project is progressing.

It is a matter of great regret that the emergency repairs which the FGSJ hoped to undertake in 1997 were overtaken by a freak windstorm which blew off the roof of the house. Since then, the house has suffered further decay.

The FGSJ was responsible for architect's drawings of the house being completed and these are available should there be a restoration in future. The FGSJ is still very much interested in the Barrett House.