History radiates from every stone in this lively square located at the heart of Montego Bay.
Montego Bay’s elegantly designed Charles Square was renamed in honour of a legendary local hero, the pioneering Jamaican anti-slavery campaigner, Sam Sharpe. His brave struggle for social reform is commemorated in an impressive bronze monument in the square which today bears his name.
A walk around the square and the winding cobblestone streets which form the historic centre of Montego Bay will give you a fascinating overview of the city’s rich heritage. The focal point of the square is the National Heroes Monument, which depicts Sam Sharpe preaching passionately to his followers on the evils of the slave trade. The Baptist minister was the leading light behind the peaceful protest which led to the infamous 1831 Christmas Day rebellion against the British colonial rulers. Despite the fact that hundreds of lives were lost, the rebellion is revered as the turning point in the fight for the abolition of slavery in Jamaica and the British Empire at large.
A less controversial legacy of Empire is the wealth of beautiful Georgian buildings that the English left in their wake. The Civic Centre, dating from 1803 and originally the courthouse where Sharpe was tried and condemned to death for inciting rebellion, was restored in the 1960s after a devastating fire. Now it is open to the public as the Museum of St James. This engrossing collection of displays and artifacts chronicles the area’s history, from the ancient Arawak people to the era of white colonial rule and beyond.
Once you’ve thoroughly immersed yourself in the heritage of this eclectic area, take time to soak up its lively atmosphere. Head to Market street or St James street for a bite to eat while you watch the world go by, then browse the shop displays for local goods and souvenirs. Check out the Cage, once a holding cell for drunk and disorderly locals, now a popular place to pick up an unusual memento for the folks back home.
