Trench Town’ s early history
It is a common misconception that Trench Town was named after the many trenches and gullies which criss-cross the area’ s landscape. The truth is Trench Town was named after Daniel Power Trench, whose family had immigrated to Jamaica in the late 1700’ s and who were prominent members of British church, government and aristocracy.
SUBDIVISION OF TRENCH TOWN
During the early years of the twentieth century rural migrants settled on the Trench Pen lands and other lands in the area west of Kingston. In the early 1930’ s, 200 acres of the parcel of land which made up Trench Pen was subdivided to facilitate a residential community to be called Trench Town. The Central Housing Authority, CHA, an agency of government was set up to build and manage housing solutions for the rural poor, urban poor and ex-servicemen. In 1937 the roads, blocks and other infrastructure were implemented. The subdivision was inclusive of residences, schools, parks, and a health clinic. Other social institutions such as the Ambassador Theatre, Home for the Aged, Boy’ s Town YMCA and YWCA were also included. Between 1940-1949 the first residences were constructed. These were government owned housing which were occupied by tenants paying twelve shillings a month. The residences, or Government Yards as they would be later called, were built from Seventh Street to First Street between Central Road and West Road.
DEVELOPMENT OF JAMAICAN CULTURE
The six blocks which make up the Government Yards have contributed immeasurably to Jamaican and international culture. From these yards important elements of music, sports, politics and religion were born and / or developed. One needs only to look at Fifth Street to understand Trench Town’ s famous status.
Mortimer Planno, the Rastafarian elder who met His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of Ethiopia when he visited Jamaica in 1966. Planno’ s yard on Fifth Street was a mecca for Rastafari where many discussions and teachings about the Rastafari lifestyle were held. St. William Grant, the Trade Unionist, Labour Activist, Black Nationalist and Garveyite who taught Bustamante how to relate to the‘ grass roots’ masses. He was a public orator who held public forums in Victoria Park, downtown Kingston which was later officially renamed St. William Grant Park.
Alton Ellis is known as the Godfather of rocksteady, the precursor to reggae. Alton reigned on the airwaves and stage shows across the island. Along with his sister Hortense, they defined a music that reflected the mood of the era.
The energy created on Fifth Street by these four famous residents can be reciprocated on any of the other six streets where other famous personalities lived. Central Road, the main road in the community was later renamed Collie Smith Drive after the internationally famous cricketer who attended Boys Town.
Christopher Whyms-Stone, Director / Board Member, Trench Town Development Association and Chief Architect and Curator, Culture Yard
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