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A 1774 engraving of Spanish Town's colonial offices

Spanish Town is the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica. It held the status of capital city from the 16th to the 19th century, and is now a World Heritage Site. The city is home to certain memorials, the national archives, a small population, and the oldest Anglican church outside of England. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Spanish Town may refer to one of the following Spanish Town is the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica Spanish Town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Spanish Town, the main settlement on Virgin Gorda See also Spanish City (disambiguation) Category: ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1147x753, 419 KB)A 1774 engraving of colonial offices in Spanish Town, Jamaica. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1147x753, 419 KB)A 1774 engraving of colonial offices in Spanish Town, Jamaica. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... The Anglican Communion is a world-wide organisation of Anglican Churches. ...

The Spanish settlement of Villa de la Vega was founded by governor Francisco de Garay in 1534 as the capital of the colony. Later, it was also called Santiago de la Vega or St. Jago de la Vega. Indigenous Taino had been living in the area for approximately a millennium before this, but this was the first European habitation on the south of the island. When the English conquered Jamaica in 1655, they renamed the capital Spanish Town. Since the town was badly damaged during the conquest, Port Royal took on many administrative roles and functioned as an unofficial capital during the beginning of the English reign. By the time Port Royal was decimated by an earthquake in 1692, Spanish Town had been rebuilt and was again functioning as the capital. 1534 (MDXXXIV) was a common year in the 16th century. ... The Taíno are the pre-Hispanic Amerindian inhabitants of the Greater Antilles, which includes Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Bahamas. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... This article is about the English as an ethnic group and nation. ... Events March 25 - Saturns largest moon, Titan, is discovered by Christian Huygens. ... Port-Royal was a Cistercian convent in the Vallée de Chevreuse southwest of Paris that launched a number of culturally important institutions. ... Events February 13 - Massacre of Glencoe March 1 - The Salem witch trials begin in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony with the charging of three women with witchcraft. ...

Spanish Town remained as the capital until 1872, when the seat of the colony was moved to Kingston. Kingston had been founded in the aftermath of the earthquake of Port Royal in 1692. Year 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The City of Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica. ... Port-Royal was a Cistercian convent in the Vallée de Chevreuse southwest of Paris that launched a number of culturally important institutions. ...

The centre of the town boasts a few Regency buildings, including the Rodney Memorial and the façade of Old King's House, the residence of the governors until 1872. The English Regency, or simply the Regency, is a name given to the period from 1811 to 1820 in the history of England. ...

Today, Spanish Town is sometimes referred to colloquially as "Spain Town" or "Prison Oval" within the confines of Jamaica. The latter nickname is a reference to the Cricket pitch or oval located just outside the St. Catherine District Prison where some inmates can get a limited view of the sport through their cell windows. Association football is also played at the Prison Oval. Bowler Shaun Pollock bowls to batsman Michael Hussey. ... The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. ...

The history of Spanish Town lives on in the remains of the old buildings in its street names that mark it as the start of Jamaica's overall history. Reminders of Spanish Jamaica include Red Church and White Church Streets, symbolic of the Spanish chapels of the red and white cross, as well as Monk Street, in reference to the monastery that once stood nearby. Nugent Street and Manchester Street were named for British Colonial Governors, George Nugent and William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester. King Street received its name because it runs past King's House and Constitution Street, near to the Square, it also refers to the fact that the island's administrative centre used to be located there Monastery of St. ... Field Marshal Sir George Nugent, 1st Baronet, GCB (10 June 1757-11 March 1849), British soldier. ... The Most Noble William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester (October 21, 1771–March 18, 1843) was the son of George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester. ...

The population of present day Spanish Town is 148,845 (2006 population estimate). The population of Spanish Town, like the rest of the St. Catherine has been growing rapidly, causing a drastic increase of crime and violence in the city. The city has been in turmoil for the past 4 years as a result of the increase of violent murders. Steps have been taken by the government recently to stop the violence, but none of them have been successful. Mayor Raymoth Notice said the problem with Spanish Town is that there are too many guns and not enough jobs and educational opportunities.

It was for this reason that last year he launched a gun initiative, proposing to swap guns for education. Under this initiative, the mayor urged those in possession of illegal guns to turn them over, in exchange for a chance to learn new skills and further their education. Notice's initiative did not get far as he failed to pull in the required support from the national security ministry and the police.

References

• Parish Information
• Robertson, James, 2005, Gone is the Ancient Glory, Spanish Town Jamaica 1534-2000, Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, ISBN 976-637-197-0

Trivia

The famous pirate Calico Jack and his crew were hanged in Santiago de la Vega in 1720 following a trial conducted by the governor, Sir Nicholas Lawes. Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... John Rackham (died 17 November 1720), also known as Calico Jack Rackham or Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain during the early 18th century. ... // 1655-1661 (Commanders) English Commanders ruled Jamaica after the end of rule by Spanish Governor of Jamaica. ... Sir Nicholas Lawes was Governor of Jamaica from 1718 to 1722. ...

In Charlotte Brontë's famous novel Jane Eyre, Bertha Rochester, the insane wife of Edward Rochester, came from Spanish Town. Charlotte Brontë (IPA: ) (April 21, 1816 – March 31, 1855) was an English novelist and the eldest of the three Brontë sisters whose novels have become enduring classics of English literature. ... Jane Eyre is a classic novel by Charlotte Brontë which was published in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Company, London, and is one of the most famous British novels. ...

The oldest man-made bridge in the western hemisphere is in Spanish Town. Coordinates: 17°59′N, 76°57′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...