Old Naval Hospital damaged by fire

The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) is reporting that restorative work will soon be done on the Old Naval Hospital in Port Royal, following Sunday afternoon's fire.

The fire, the cause of which remains unknown, damaged sections of the heritage site. It reportedly started shortly after midday, and was brought under control with the assistance of residents, and one fire unit.

So far there is no estimate of the damage available.

Dorrick Gray, Acting Executive Director of the JNHT, expressed gratitude to community members who assisted in putting out the fire, but the residents have used the incident to demand a fire truck for Port Royal.

These residents are insistent that, had there been a fire engine in the historic town at the time, the damage done to the building would have been far less extensive.

Port Royal is one of the most significant historic locations in Jamaica. Once known as the “wickedest city on earth”, it was one of Britain’s most important colonial ports in the 17^th century, providing a base for privateers such as Sir Henry Morgan, from which to attack ships belonging to rival European nations.

The town was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1692 and also 1907 but it remains of significant archeological importance, with many of the old buildings still intact below the sea. Others, still above water, like the Old Naval Hospital, are key heritage landmarks, subject to the protection of the JNHT.