Page 491 - The British Big Four

irthplace of Democracy - But its great- completed in January 1998, a historically
B est historic significance was not even
publicly known until this decade. Pedro St.
James was the site of a historic meeting of
residents which took place on 5 December,
1831 during which it was resolved that
representatives should be appointed for the
five different districts for the purpose of
forming local laws for better Government.
The elections took place on 10 Decem-
ber in the five districts on Grand Cayman
and on 31 December they met as the first
Legislative Assembly for the first time in
George Town. It considered the birthplace
of democracy in the Cayman Islands. This
is the equivalent to Independence Hall
in the United States. In addition, another
historic event took place here in May 1835,
when the proclamation declaring the
emancipation of all slaves throughout the
colonies was read at Pedro St. James and at
a number of other prominent places in the
Cayman Islands.
H istorically Accurate Restoration - The
new Pedro St. James great house was
obtained from St. Kitts and other Caribbean
accurate restoration of the original plan- countries. Rooms are accurate in detail
tation great house, representative of the down to walls painted with lime wash the
period between 1820 and 1840. The three- colour of oxblood; candle sconces and brass
level design with wide verandas was based door fastenings. A bake oven and outdoor
on archival and architectural research about kitchen on the building’s northwest side are
that era of Caribbean history, as well as recreations of the original great house es-
the materials used in the original structure tate. More recent additions include an early
itself. This provided enough evidence for an 20th century Caymanian-style cottage and
accurate idea of what Eden’s original manor Steadman Bodden house, a restored tradi-
looked like. Every detail reflects authentic tional 100-year-old Caymanian wattle and
building techniques of early 19th century daub home. Both were relocated to the site
Caribbean great houses - from rough hewn to enhance its educational heritage value.
timber beams and wooden pegs to replac-
ing the false upper level crenulations with O ne of the most beautiful Caribbean
a gabled framework. Other period features attractions, Pedro St. James is already
include mahogany floors and staircases, a popular venue for weddings and social
wide beam wooden ceilings; stone walls, events. The grounds have been landscaped
outside wooden louvered shutters and as a magnificent natural tropical park with
mahogany doors. The first floor houses native trees and plants, as well as tradi-
the jail, store rooms, kitchen and pantry. tional medicinal and vegetable gardens
The second level is a dining room, court- representative of a small early 19th century
room and veranda and the upper level West Indian plantation.
contains the living quarters. Furnishings
are a combination of original 19th century
mahogany antiques and reproductions