Old Harbour: Railway Architecture and Building History

Old Harbour appeals to travellers who like to connect local cultural history with tangible architectural features. In the town, you’ll find Old Harbour Railway Station, a two-storey building in the Georgian style of Jamaica, the Old Harbour Clock Tower, and a community market; about two miles north, Colbeck Castle stands in the open countryside of Saint Catherine. These different points of interest range from architecture and heritage to a local market.

Railway Station Architecture in Old Harbour

Old Harbour Railway Station was built around 1879. Its ground floor is a paved concrete passageway with a row of wooden posts supporting the zinc gabled roof and the stationmaster’s rooms. “Two-storey” describes the building’s overall form, while the passageway, row of posts, and roof provide more specific details. A gabled roof describes the shape of the roof, and zinc is the material specified. Together with its classification in Jamaica’s Georgian style, the building offers both an architectural context and specific construction details. For a culture-focused trip, this shift between the overall form and individual architectural features may be of interest.

Colbeck Castle and Its Form

About two miles north of Old Harbour, Colbeck Castle stands in the open countryside of Saint Catherine. The ruin is made of stone and brick; its walls still stand at their full original height. The castle was built around 1680. Its floor plan is rectangular, with a tower-like, four-storey structure at each corner, about 40 feet high. The floor plan describes the layout as seen from above; the four corner structures make the rectangle and its marked corners easy to picture. Together with the stone and brick walls, this layout differs distinctly from the railway station’s construction. The building dates of around 1680 and 1879 are just under two centuries apart.

Clock Tower and Community Market

The Old Harbour Clock Tower was declared a National Monument on December 25, 2008. This date is another point of reference in Old Harbour’s heritage, alongside the construction dates of the station and castle. Old Harbour also has a community market. Alongside the historic buildings, a local market is another point of interest in the town, adding a different aspect to its architectural and heritage history.

Considering Old Harbour as a Holiday Destination

When looking for a holiday rental, this mix can help you decide if the town is right for you. Are you mainly interested in understanding the town’s historic architectural styles, or would you also like to visit Colbeck Castle north of Old Harbour? For families, comparing the two may spark shared curiosity: you can compare the railway station’s construction with the castle’s rectangular floor plan and tower-like corner structures. This can help you decide whether Old Harbour’s architectural and heritage history is among the themes you’d like to focus on during your holiday.

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