Preserving Jamaica's Heritage Since 1958876-922-1287info@jnht.com
JNHT

Enriching Our Heritage

150 East Street

Site details

Status
Declared
Date
28 March 2017
Category
Other Historic Sites
Parish
Kingston

About this site

The building at 150 East Street reflects a typical medium-sized colonial vernacular house layout, combining traditional Jamaican Georgian architecture with locally adapted vernacular features. The upper-floor veranda, now enclosed with panel walls containing sash and louver windows with double operable jalousies, sits above a symmetrical ground-floor facade with a double door entrance. Distinctive vernacular additions include window shading devices, a front double staircase with decorative wrought iron rails, baluster rails, and an extended upper floor landing covered by a triangular pediment supported by Doric columns. The house features a double-sloped, high-pitched wooden shingled roof reminiscent of traditional English Georgian style, complete with short eaves, while the side elevations are built of period stone and block work with sash windows aligned vertically in a minimalist traditional form.

Standing in contrast to the modern Ministry of Education buildings on National Heroes Circle, the house serves as a charming reminder of Kingston's earlier architectural character and holds special sentimental value for the area. Although the building has undergone several alterations over the years to accommodate office use, these changes have not diminished the beauty and integrity of its original architectural design.

150 East Street (front view)