Pedro St James Castle
| Pedro St James Castle | |
| Cayman Islands | |
|---|---|
 Pedro St James Castle, fully restored | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 19°16’2"N, 81°17’30"W |
| History | |
| Built 1780 | |
| Plantation house | |
| Information | |
| Website: | http://pedrostjames.ky/ |
Pedro St James Castle, Pedro St James, or Pedro's Castle is the oldest existing building in the Cayman Islands.[1] Located on the southern coast of Grand Cayman Island, the manor is an original 1780 house,[2] and the home of plantation owner William Eden, which has since been restored or reconstructed.
In 1831, the Castle served as the meeting place for the first elected parliament in the Cayman Islands, and so the location has since been hailed as the birthplace of democracy in the Caymans. During this meeting, the decision was made amongst the island's leading citizens to vote for elected representatives. Four years later, in 1835, the Slavery Abolition Act was read from the stone archway of the building.
By the 1970s, the building was reduced to ruin after decades of neglect. In 1996, a restoration totalling over $6 million transformed the then-abandoned waterfront building.[3] The two-story building and its verandas were rebuilt and reconstructed in the original 18th-century style and is the most extensive restoration project in Cayman history.[2]
The house today
Currently, a 7th great-grandson of William Eden serves as one of the tour guides at the historical site.[4]
The landmark contains a visitors' centre, theatre, exhibits, a gift shop, and café. it is a popular venue for weddings and social events.[2]
See also
Outside links
References
- ↑ Access Caribbean, 1998
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Caymanislands.co.uk: Pedro St James
- ↑ Access Caribbean, 1998, Retrieved on June 4, 2008
- ↑ Pedro St James: Things To Know