One
of Jamaica’s most celebrated historical landmarks The
Devon House Mansion is the architectural dream of Jamaica’s
first black millionaire George Stiebel. Stiebel was among
three wealthy Jamaicans who constructed elaborate homes during
the late 19th century at the corner of Trafalgar Road and
Hope Road, which fittingly became known as the Millionaires
Corner. Daniel Finzi and the Verleys were the other families
that resided in the area, however, both homes were eventually
demolished to make way for development ventures including
the construction of Abbey Court Apartments. Stiebel’s
legacy lives on with the beautifully maintained Devon House,
which was declared a national monument in 1990 by the Jamaica
National Heritage Trust.
The
Rectors of Devon Penn
Many
would be surprised to learn however that the early history
of Devon House dates back to the mid seventeenth century when
Britain captured Jamaica from Spain. One of the central roles
of the British Government was to introduce religion to the
people of Jamaica, and Rev. John Zellers was among five Ministers
selected for service in the island. On his arrival Rev. Zellers
was appointed to serve the parish of St. Andrew. The glebe,
as land attached to the Anglican Church was termed, was awarded
to Rev. Zellers. In the letter of patent given by Charles
11 on May 1667 Rev Zellers was assigned, " land,
meadow, pasture and woodlands..ye same containing 600 acres…together
with all edifices, woods, trees, rents, commodities, ways
and passages…and all mines and minerals whatsoever in
ye premises.”
