Hibbert House

17°58′25″N 76°47′27″W / 17.973646°N 76.790727°W / 17.973646; -76.790727Construction started1755Completed1755OwnerJamaica National Heritage Trust

Hibbert House, also known as Headquarters House, is the head office of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. It is located at 79 Duke Street in Kingston, Jamaica. It was built in 1755 by Thomas Hibbert, a wealthy English merchant, to serve as his residence. Hibbert migrated to Kingston in 1734, at a time when Jamaica was becoming the wealthiest of the British Caribbean islands and the largest single destination of African slaves. In the early 1750s, he formed a partnership with Nathaniel Sprigg to serve as factors for slaves, purchasing them off the ships from Africa and reselling them to planters and others in Jamaica. Hibbert also helped found a major West Indian house in London, trading in sugar and rum.

The building

The two-story house is made from fine flemish bonded brick, stone and timber. The walls are brick with limestone quoins. The front of the building has Jamaican Vernacular fretwork.^[1]

The house has a basement and an attic with dormer windows, a courtyard and several outhouses. Offices were on the ground floor with bedrooms above.^[1]

Early days

Headquarters House or "Hibbert House", as it was known up to the time of the owner's death, stands as a reminder of the wealth and power of the Kingston merchants in their glory days. Hibbert was among the first of many wealthy merchants to build in the Georgian style of architecture, as was fashionable in 18th century England. This style would play a large part in the development of Jamaican architecture.

Hibbert became involved in politics and in due course was named Speaker of the House of Assembly in 1756.^[2] When the capital of Jamaica temporarily moved from Spanish Town to Kingston in 1754. the House of Assembly and Legislative Council held their meetings at Hibbert House until 1758.^[1]

Hibbert never married, but he maintained a 24-year relationship with Charity Harry, dating from the birth of their daughter Jane Harry in 1756.^[2] Charity Harry was described as Hibbert's housekeeper and a "free mulatto," meaning she was not enslaved and had mixed European and African ancestry. She could read and own property. Hibbert provided her with a home, clothes, furniture, and other possessions. Upon Hibbert's death the house was passed to his heir and nephew and not to his daughter Jane or long time consort Charity.^[2]

Military Headquarters

In 1814 the house was sold to the War Office of the West Indies Regiment to serve as its headquarters, and as the residence for the General of the army that was garrisoned there. This is where it gained the name of "Headquarters House". Since the house is located near the harbor with a good view of the city, it was very desirable as a military headquarters. It was during this time that the crow's nest/ sentinel post was built on the roof.

While Hibbert House served as the Headquarters House, several illustrious commanders resided there:

Willoughby Cotton, who ordered the militia to crush the Christmas Rebellion of enslaved Africans, led by Sam Sharpe in 1831.^[1]
William Gomm who founded the Military Hill Station at New Castle, St. Andrew in 1841.
Luke O'Connor, Commander in Chief of the Military Forces which put down the Morant Bay rebellion of 1865.
Mayor John Eyre, organized his attack on St. Thomas to crush the Morant Bay Rebellion.

Purchase by Jamaican government

Hibbert House was purchased by the Jamaican government in 1872 for £5000 Sterling. Kingston became the permanent seat of the Jamaica legislation and Hibbert House was used as the Offices of Colonial Secretary until 1960.

Current use

Since 1983, Headquarters House has been used as the head office of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. The building has survived social, political and structural changes as well as the forces of nature to become a truly national historic treasure, worthy of preservation.

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Jamaica National Heritage Trust - Jamaica - Hibbert House Headquarters House". www.jnht.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Donington, Katie (2016). "Harry [married name Thresher], Jane (1755/6–1784), Quaker and artist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/107509. ISBN 9780198614128. Retrieved 21 January 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Bibliography

Jennings, Judi. Gender, Religion, and Radicalism in the Long Eighteenth Century: An 'Ingenious Quaker' and Her Connections (ashgate, 2006).

External links

Media related to Hibbert House at Wikimedia Commons

Hibbert House, JNHT, 2005.
Aerial view.

National Heritage Sites in Jamaica

As designated by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust

Clarendon

Halse Hall Great House
Mason River Botanical Station
May Pen Clock Tower
Milk River Spa
St. Peter's Church, Alley

Hanover

Barbican Estate
Tamarind Lodge
Old Hanover Gaol, Lucea
Old Police Barracks, Lucea
Tryall Great House
Tryall sugar works (ruins)
Fort Charlotte, Lucea
Blenheim

Kingston

Buildings	40 Harbour Street Coke Methodist Church, East Parade Fort Charles Headquarters House Holy Trinity Cathedral, North Street Kingston Parish Church Kingston railway station Liberty Hall, King Street Old Jewish Cemetery, Hunts Bay Port Royal The Admiralty Houses Wesley Methodist Church, Tower Street Palisadoes Ward Theatre George William Gordon House
Monuments & statues	General Antonio Maceo Cenotaph Donald Sangster George William Gordon & Paul Bogle Marcus Garvey Nanny of the Maroons Norman Manley Sam Sharp Sir Alexander Bustamante Negro Aroused Statue of Father Joseph Dupont Statue of Hon. Edward Jordan Statue of Queen Victoria Statue of Sir Alexander Bustamante Statue of Sir Charles Metcalfe