Greenwood Great House

Greenwood Great House, located in the parish of St. James on Jamaica’s north coast, was built in 1790 by Richard Barrett, a prominent planter and public figure. The Barrett family, originally from Wimpole Street in England, arrived in Jamaica in the 1660s and quickly amassed great wealth through sugar plantations. Greenwood was initially constructed as a guest house for visiting dignitaries and remains a fine example of late eighteenth-century Jamaican architecture. The estate, along with Barrett Hall, situated a few miles up the hill, once belonged to Richard Barrett, who was both a leading figure in local politics as Speaker of the Assembly and Custos of St. James. Richard Barrett was also a cousin to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the famous poet, and part of the larger Barrett family, which includes the Moulton Barretts of Cinnamon Hill. Today, Greenwood serves as a museum, housing the original library of the Barrett family, and offers a glimpse into the life of one of Jamaica’s influential colonial families. The house and its grounds stand as a testament to the wealth and historical importance of the Barrett legacy in Jamaica.