Discover Savanna-La-Mar

On Jamaica’s south coast, Savanna-La-Mar tells its story through a range of different features: its former role as a port, buildings with distinctive forms, and a fort between land and sea. Visitors can connect these themes or focus on whichever interests them most.

Port history and historic landscape

Savanna-La-Mar was a Spanish settlement and was declared the capital of Westmoreland Parish in 1730. These two details offer different reference points for the town’s history: its early settlement and its later administrative role. Together, they help explain why the town’s history encompasses more than individual buildings.

On Jamaica’s south coast, Savanna-La-Mar developed into a port during periods of high production, shipping sugar and other products. Its port history thus points to an economic role connected with the production of these goods. This offers a different perspective on the past from the buildings, whose architectural forms can be observed directly.

The landscape is also part of the historic picture: Savanna-La-Mar was flanked by swamps on both sides. This adds a geographical feature of the town’s historic setting to the port perspective. The port’s development and the swamps therefore tell different stories about the place, without merging into a single theme.

Buildings with different stories

Savanna-la-mar Court House was built in 1925 and is located on Great George Street in Norman Square. Its construction date and precise location provide a specific point of reference for exploring the town’s history. Savanna-la-mar Baptist Church, by contrast, shows how architectural details can be observed: its floor plan is rectangular, and its symmetrical façade has four pointed-arch windows arranged in the shape of a cross.

Further details of the same church reveal its design from different angles. Each side of the building has five large pointed-arch windows. Two projecting porches shelter the entrances. The orderly window arrangement and the design of the entrance areas can thus be considered side by side. The pointed arches, rectangular floor plan and symmetrical façade are concrete features that help describe the architecture.

The church is also associated with the anti-slavery movement of the early 19th century in the West Indies and England. This brings architectural and historical aspects together at the building: the windows and porches define its described form, while its connection to the movement provides a further historical context.

The cast-iron Cast Iron Fountain offers a different architectural feature. Its columns are fluted, with vertical grooves, and follow the Corinthian style. Each of the eight columns supports an arch, and above each arch is a plaque featuring a pelican motif. The fountain is therefore easy to appreciate through its individual design elements: columns, arches and plaques form a sequence that differs from the church’s façade.

The fort between land and sea

Savanna-la-mar Fort was built to protect the town but was never completed. Its location is also noteworthy: the fort lies partly on land and mostly in the sea. Its purpose, unfinished state and location describe different aspects of the same place. Compared with the architectural details of the church and fountain, the focus here is primarily on the relationship between the structure and its surroundings.

If you are planning a trip with your family, you can use these different themes to guide your interests: local history, architecture or the historic landscape. Consider which of them you would like to make the focus of your stay, and take that focus into account when searching for a holiday rental in Savanna-La-Mar. This way, you can first choose your destination based on the kind of trip you want, without reducing the different sights to a single story.

Discover more destinations: Darliston, Little Bay, Bluefields, Negril, Grange Hill, White House.

Return to the broader travel overview: Westmoreland Parish.