- FILE
The beautiful and historic Harmony Hall building has been declared a national monument.
Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
THE HISTORIC Harmony Hall Gallery and Art Centre, located in St. Mary, is now a national monument.
Formal announcement of the designation was received by owners, Annabella and Peter Proudlock, in May from the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) but the two-storey Jamaica Georgian house was actually deemed to be of "significant worth" on April 4, 2003
Lisa Grant, legal officer at the JNHT, told The Sunday Gleaner that a site is declared a national monument, if in the opinion of the Trust, its preservation is "a matter of public interest by reason of historic, architectural, traditional, artistic, aesthetic, scientific, or archaeological value."
In the case of Harmony Hall, the property was judged to be of historical and architectural importance.
"Harmony Hall dates back to the late 19th century and is architecturally significant," research officer, Georgia Brown, explained to The Sunday Gleaner. "Its design is indicative of Jamaica-Georgia architectural style, and it has an intricate fretwork of gingerbread trimmings and a balustrade, which were features of homes in the 19th century."
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
She explained that the Trust's investigations have revealed that the building was the original house on a small pimento estate in the latter part of the 19th century. Limes and pimento were the main crops and there are still old barbecues to be seen on the property.
By 1910 (like many other properties in St. Mary), Harmony Hall began to plant bananas and, by 1938, the agricultural produce had expanded to include coconuts.
Research further shows that the house became the manse for the local Methodist Church circuit, and the distinguished Sherlock family lived there at one time. The property later became the private home of the Lobban family for nearly 50 years.
In 1980, Mrs. Proudlock purchased the building, remodelled it and launched the Harmony Hall Gallery.
For her part, the gallery owner is delighted with the level of recognition afforded by the declaration.
"We are still in the process of assessing the implications of the declaration," she told The Sunday Gleaner. "But we are pleased with this development, and delighted that the building will now be protected. On a more practical note, we hope it will translate into some financial benefit, for while it was a good looking home at the time when we bought it, my husband and I have put in a lot of work (at great cost) over the years."
During their repairs and remodelling, the Proudlocks retained much of the basic structures and surfaces, in keeping with the original historic design.
"In fact, much of the praise must be given to the designer and artist Dawn Scott, who worked with the fretwork restoration," Mrs. Proudlock explained.
Notice of the declaration has been included in the gallery's brochures, and on its Web site, and it will also be listed with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) as a visitor attraction.
But, apart from heritage tourism exposure, the owners of the national monument are also entitled to :
Appropriate compensation for any resultant financial loss in declaring the site a national monument . A tax deductible expense under the Income Tax Act for any amount spent on work as being necessary for its preservation. This work has to be approved and certified by the JNHT. A capital allowance for any amount spent in developing the monument.SEEK PERMISSION
The downside is that the owner/occupier of a national monument is prohibited from carrying out any "demolition, removal, development or alteration" without approval from the JNHT.
"It is illegal for persons to do new work on an historical building without getting the Trust's written approval and will have to conform to certain guidelines in doing the work," Miss Grant explained. "This is a restriction many owners/occupiers find irksome, but if they follow the recommendations and guidelines carefully, the amount of time and money spent in seeking approval would be minimised."
Turning to Orange Park, the seven-acre property of artist Barrington Watson which was given as a gift to the nation in 1991, Miss Grant said the JNHT was in the process of determining its historical or archaeological value.
"Since the property was given as a gift, it will not be declared a national monument," Miss Grant told The Sunday Gleaner. "But it was the site of an old coffee plantation, and is currently being assessed for its historical significance."
Orange Park is being administered by a trust, with the objective of developing the property further to include a museum and a number of studio cottages to facilitate artistic work and research.
The gift comprised the Watsons' dwelling house, guest houses, art studio and tennis courts, and hundreds of pieces of his own work as well as his collection of the work of colleagues.
Revenues from the rental of the studio cottages and the proceeds from a small fee for admission to the museum was expected to sustain the complex.
