Savanna-la-Mar
Encyclopedia
Savanna-la-Mar is the chief town and capital of Westmoreland parish, Jamaica
.
It is a coastal town and contains a fort, constructed in the 18th century for defence against pirates.
In 1780, the town was completely destroyed by a powerful hurricane, now known to history as Savanna-la-Mar hurricane.
Savanna-la-Mar is mentioned in Bob Dylan
's song "Sara".
It is interesting to note that the school was established on the present site near Savanna-la-mar instead of on the lands left by Manning at Burnt Savannah Pen at the northern end of the George's Plain.
In 1780, a hurricane did extensive damage to the school and the Board petitioned the House of Assembly for help to effect repairs.
As the years progressed, the 20th Century led to the reorganization of the School into a Modern Grammar School. The oldest existing part of the School which was built in the early 20th Century is known as the Thomas Manning Building, named in honour of the School's founder. It is the most outstanding building on the entire School property and is currently used as library and classrooms.
The Thomas Manning Building is a delightful structure which is constructed from timber and the rest on a masonry plinth. Typical of the Georgian architecture, the building is perfectly symmetrical in elevation. However, for its function in the tropics, the Architect has added several features. On all sides the building has been fitted with deep verandas to add shade. The vented steep gable roof expels hot air, and a cupola with fixed jalousies provide relief for any warm air trapped in the roof. The features combined have created a perfect example of colonial architecture.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
It is a coastal town and contains a fort, constructed in the 18th century for defence against pirates.
In 1780, the town was completely destroyed by a powerful hurricane, now known to history as Savanna-la-Mar hurricane.
Savanna-la-Mar is mentioned in Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's song "Sara".
- "Sleepin' in the woods by a fire in the night,"
- "Drinkin' white rum in a Portugal bar,"
- "Them playin' leapfrog and hearin' about Snow White,"
- "You in the marketplace in Savanna-la-Mar"
Schools
Mannings High School, the history of the Manning's School dates back to a quarter of a century before the actual setting up of the school when in 1710, Thomas Manning, a Westmoreland planter, bequeathed a gift of land for the setting up of a free school in the parish of Westmoreland. The legal formalities which facilitated the effecting of his will were formalised in 1738 when the Jamaica Assembly made this possible by the passing of an Act, Eleventh George II chapter 9, after which the Free School was formally established.It is interesting to note that the school was established on the present site near Savanna-la-mar instead of on the lands left by Manning at Burnt Savannah Pen at the northern end of the George's Plain.
In 1780, a hurricane did extensive damage to the school and the Board petitioned the House of Assembly for help to effect repairs.
As the years progressed, the 20th Century led to the reorganization of the School into a Modern Grammar School. The oldest existing part of the School which was built in the early 20th Century is known as the Thomas Manning Building, named in honour of the School's founder. It is the most outstanding building on the entire School property and is currently used as library and classrooms.
The Thomas Manning Building is a delightful structure which is constructed from timber and the rest on a masonry plinth. Typical of the Georgian architecture, the building is perfectly symmetrical in elevation. However, for its function in the tropics, the Architect has added several features. On all sides the building has been fitted with deep verandas to add shade. The vented steep gable roof expels hot air, and a cupola with fixed jalousies provide relief for any warm air trapped in the roof. The features combined have created a perfect example of colonial architecture.
Notable people
- John DunkleyJohn DunkleyJohn Dunkley was a Jamaican painter and sculptor. Of the same generation as David Pottinger and Albert Huie, his work is generally darker in tone, and has been described as sharing characteristics with Wifredo Lam's paintings...
-Painter - Ronnie DavisRonnie DavisRonnie Davis is a reggae singer who was a member of The Tennors and The Itals, and now performs with the group Ronnie Davis & Idren.-Biography:...
-Singer, Song Writer, Performer. Reggae singer who was a member of The Tennors and The Itals, and now performs with the group Ronnie Davis & Idren Wikipedia: Ronnie DavisRonnie DavisRonnie Davis is a reggae singer who was a member of The Tennors and The Itals, and now performs with the group Ronnie Davis & Idren.-Biography:... - Golaub Family -Builders of the first mosque in Savanna-la-Mar in 1957, currently being restore and extended by descendant Ahmad Roy Golaub.