Mandeville

A harmonious contrast between the old and the new, Manchester’s capital is a booming business centre set amidst rolling hills and lush vegetation. The town is situated some 2000 feet above sea level, and is one of the more peaceful and attractive places on the island. The name Manchester comes from the days when the Duke of Manchester, who later established the capital and named it after his son, the Viscount of Mandeville, in 1816, governed Jamaica. Wealthy English settlers and expatriates favoured this part of the island, building impressive mansions and country homes here because the landscape reminded them of their own countryside in climate, temperament and aesthetic. Today, a large number of the residents here are Jamaicans who have lived abroad for many years, usually in England, and who have returned to retire