FALMOUTH

Falmouth has been one of the most important and popular ports in Jamaica since 1769. Poised between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay on the island’s northern coast, Falmouth is known for offering the best of Jamaica’s activities.  You can enjoy relaxing on the white-sand beaches, bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae River, horseback riding through the water or you can choose to explore historic sites and many of Jamaica's natural wonders such as Dunn’s River Falls.

Falmouth was founded by Thomas Reid in 1769. During this period, Jamaica was the world’s leading sugar producer, and Falmouth thrived as a market center and port. It was meticulously planned from the start, with wide streets in a regular grid, adequate water supply, and impressive public buildings. The streets are adorned with unique fretwork and windows, major merchant and planter complexes, and commercial buildings dating from 1790 to 1840. The town’s prosperity was closely tied to the sugar industry. 

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Falmouth was one of the busiest ports in colonial Jamaica. It was home to various professionals, including masons, carpenters, tavern keepers, sailors, and planters. The town’s economy revolved around the triangular trade in the Atlantic, with merchant ships transporting slaves from Africa or rum and sugar produced on nearby plantations for export to Europe.

* Information was obtained from the Jamaica National Heritage Trust website and several internet sources.