Hampden was owned by Archibald Stirling in the late
18th century, and was one of the 9 remaining sugar factories on the
island until its closure in 2003. It used to process cane from its own 3500 acres and from surrounding small farmers, but this is now trucked to Long Pond. It was famous for its high ester rum, most
of which was exported to Europe, but, alas, no more!
The great house located immediately
beside the factory was built byStirling in 1779 and straddles the
border between St James and Trelawny. It was originally a
functional stone and mortar dwelling and the ground floor was used
as a rum store until the early 1900s when remodelling created
spacious verandas and a graceful profile. Beside the greathouse
driveway a tiny graveyard commemorates former proprietors and their
families. The inscription on the tomb of John Stirling, who died in
1793 aged 25, attests to his many virtues and the affection of his
brother Archibald.
In 1823,Archibald Stirling he and his friend William Stehert, also a Scotsman and who owned nearby Dundee Estate, invited the Scottish Missionary Society to carry out missionary work in the area.
| Stirling gave land on the Hampden Estate for the construction of a church and he and Stehert put up half the cost of building it. Now known as the Hampden United Church, it was previously known as Scots' Kirk and Hampden Presbyterian Church |  |
| Rev George Blythe was sent in 1824 to erect the church which was apparently dedicated in 1827. |  |
The interior of the church has various
plaques, including one that  was erected by the
Congregation to commemorate the total extinction of slavery on the
1st August, 1938. |
 The stained-glass
window on the right of the photo was presented in memory of
George MacFarquharson, second lieutenant, Royal Garrison Artillery,
who was killed in action in France on May 3, 1917 during World War
1.I am not sure of the exact relationship to the Estate owners. |
|
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ISABELLA [NEE EDGAR] WIDOW OF WILIAM J. DONALD-HILL BORN 14TH DECEMBER 1864 AT FORRES, SCOTLAND DIED 4TH JUNE 1956 -------- 'IN PASTURES GREEN HE LEADETH ME THE QUIET WATERS BY!' |
Among the graves in the churchyard are those for
William and Isabella Donald-Hill who owned Windsor from 1892 until 1947, hence our special
interest as present owners. |
