Pedro St. James Castle

Pedro St. James, Pedro St. James Castle, or Pedro's Castle is the oldest existing stone building in the Cayman Islands.[1][2]

The fully restored Pedro St. James Castle on Grand Cayman

Pedro St. James was built in 1780 by an Englishman named William Eden. Although it is not known why and how Eden came to Cayman, he became sufficiently prosperous for his small land holding near Spotts to be marked on the first map of Grand Cayman in 1773 as Edens. Using slave labour, Eden styled the home as a small scale great house of the kind then found on plantations in Jamaica. The house received its name due to its location along Pedro Point.

Birthplace of Democracy Being the largest home on the island at the time, Pedro St. James was a key meeting place for principal inhabitants. On 5 December 1831, the decision was made to form the first elected parliament. Elections were held on 10 December and the fledgling legislature passed its first local legislation on 31 December 1831, thus the home became known as "The Birthplace of Democracy in the Cayman Islands".

End of Slavery in the Cayman Islands Still governed by Jamaica, on 3 May 1835, (two years after the Slave Emancipation Act of 1833 was passed) Robert Thompson, sent by the Governor of Jamaica held a court at Pedro St. James to issue the proclamation ending slavery in the British Empire. The proclamation was read atop the iconic stone staircase of the great house.

The Various Uses of the Great House In the more than 200 years since the Great House was built, its uses have varied between plantation, courthouse, jail, government assembly, and restaurant. The stone structure has survived hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, vandalism, and speculations of being jinxed. During the 20th century the site continued to be privately owned, but the building was reduced to ruin after decades of neglect. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the house underwent extensive alterations as a tourist attraction and restaurant. It was in these modern times the property became known as "Pedro Castle", being renamed and refurbished to look like a castle by businessman Thomas "Tom" Hubbell.

National Historic Site In 1991 the Cayman Islands government purchased Pedro St. James with the aim of preserving and restoring it to its 18th-century grandeur as a national historic site. The three-story building and its verandas were rebuilt and reconstructed in the original 18th-century style and is the most extensive restoration project in Cayman history. The property stands today in its restored state as a historic landmark and a dynamic piece of Caymanian history and heritage. Currently, a 7th great-grandson of William Eden serves as one of the tour guides at the historical site.

The landmark contains a visitors centre, theatre, exhibits, a gift shop, restaurant and bar. It is a popular venue for weddings and social events.[3]

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Pedro St. James after years of neglect and decades before it was fully restored

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