Spain maintained control over the island for 146 years, until the English took control following their invasion of 1655. Zahedieh wrote, "The Portobello raid [in 1668] alone produced plunder worth £75,000, more than seven times the annual value of the island’s sugar exports, which at Port Royal prices did not exceed £10,000 at this time. Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Thoughts were that it could capitalize on its unique heritage, with archaeological findings from pre-colonial and privateering years as the basis of possible attractions. The redevelopment plan also includes a five-star hotel. Eyewitness accounts attested to buildings sliding into the water, but it is likely[clarification needed] some simply sank straight down into the now unstable layer.[23]. [18] The earthquake and tsunami killed between 1,000 and 3,000 people combined, nearly half the city's population. Unlike most archaeological sites where civilizations evolve then disappear through the passage of time, or sites where buildings were built and later neglected or abandoned, eventually being destroyed and then possibly rebuilt; Port Royal is a city that existed in one minute and gone the next, perpetually frozen in the state it was, when disaster struck. About five months later, the famous woman pirate Mary Read died in the Jamaican prison in Port Royal. [26] The focus of the plan is a 17th-century-themed attraction that reflects the city's heritage. [30], Donny L. Hamilton, "Pirates and Merchants: Port Royal, Jamaica," in, Nuala Zahedieh, "Trade, Plunder, and Economic Development in Early English Jamaica, 1655–89,". Today though Port Royal is known to archaeologists as the “City that Sank”. During a passing visit, famous Dutch explorer Jan van Riebeeck is said to have described the scenes: The parrots of Port Royal gather to drink from the large stocks of ale with just as much alacrity as the drunks that frequent the taverns that serve it. Around 11:43 on 7 June 1692, Port Royal was hit by a disastrous 7.5 magnitude earthquake. The Town flourished for 32 years until at 20 minues to noon, June 7, 1692, it was partially buried in the sea by an earthquake. Today it is a small local village that is located in the mouth of Kingston Harbor. In these undisturbed sites, life in the past is revealed as it was then. Capture the history, spirit and romance of the island of Jamaica with Port Royal Rums, a distinguished line of high quality rums suited to your individual taste and lifestyle. Best Dining in Port Royal, Kingston: See 630 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 7 Port Royal restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. [24] The plans stimulated the archaeological explorations on the site which, in turn, led to the suspension of development solely as a port but now included archaeological and other attractions. The community is especially close-knit because of its layout - everywhere in town is within walking distance, and there are several generations of people all living together. [29] Another report that month discussed the well-funded Living Heritage Programme which was seeking "to transform the town into a SMART, safe and secure community with a vibrant local economy, preserved cultural heritage and protected natural environment". It has two anchor areas: Old Port Royal and the King's Royal Naval Dockyard. Michael Pawson and David Busseret wrote "...one way or the other nearly all the propertied inhabitants of Port Royal seem to have an interest in privateering. The first cruise ship, the Marella Discovery II, with approximately 2,000 guests aboard, visited the new terminal on January 20, 2020. These pirates later became legal English privateers who were given letters of marque by Jamaica's governor. At the start of the 19th century, a significant amount of rebuilding took place in what was by now a substantial Royal Navy Dockyard serving the fleet in the Caribbean. Fort Charles has undergone a major renovation and is now open to visitors. "[6], Port Royal has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with a short dry season from January to April and a lengthy wet season from May to October. Pirates from around the world congregated at Port Royal, coming from waters as far away as Madagascar. The King's Royal Naval Dockyard features a combination shipbuilding-museum and underwater aquarium with dioramas for views of the native tropical sealife. Port Royal provided a safe harbour initially for privateers and subsequently for pirates plying the shipping lanes to and from Spain and Panama. The town was founded on a natural harbour at the end of a 10-mile (16-km) sand spit between what is now Kingston Harbour and the Caribbean Sea. During a 20-year period that ended in 1692, nearly 6,500 people lived in Port Royal. Did you know that Port Royal in Jamaica, was once known as the wickedest city in the world? [19], The historical Jamaica earthquake of 7 June 1692 can be dated closely not only by date, but by time of day as well. Or, that the town served as the headquarters of the Royal Navy in the Caribbean where Horatio Nelson, then a young Royal Navy officer, was stationed. [15] A few remain in place, however, including the Naval Hospital complex, some of the steam engineering buildings and a set of officers' houses. Port Royal, Jamaica was organized by the Institute of Jamaica – Museums of History and Ethnography, and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida; by the kind permission of the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture. In 2014, it was announced that some of the Historic Naval Hospital buildings would be restored to house a museum as part of a broader Port Royal Heritage Tourism Project.[17]. [4] These pirates concentrated their attacks on Spanish shipping, whose interests were considered the major threat to the town. Port Royal, Jamaica. Merchants and privateers worked together in what is now referred to as "forced trade." Find out more Opens in new tab or window Dismiss close travel advisory Port Royal was the center of shipping commerce in Jamaica in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. At its peak, though, it was the epicenter of shipping and commerce in the Caribbean by the latt… [5], In 1981, the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University began a 10-year underwater archaeological investigation of the portion of Port Royal that sank underwater during the 17th century. Severe hurricanes have regularly damaged it. Upstanding citizens disliked the reputation the city had acquired. 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