Timeline of Ownership Cherry Garden Great House
For over three centuries, the Cherry Garden Great House has witnessed the evolution of Jamaica. From its origins as a pioneer sugar estate to its role in the life of a National Hero, and finally its transformation into a modern residence, the property has passed through the hands of these key figures.
The Founder. Colonel Gomersall began assembling the estate in the 1690s, expanding it to 300 acres. He established the property as a major sugar plantation while serving as a Member of the King's Council and judge of the 1720 Pirate Trials.
Read Full Profile →The Absentee Grandee. Nephew-in-law to Gomersall, Ezekiel Dickinson inherited the estate but chose to live in England at Bowden Park. He managed Cherry Garden from afar, consolidating it with his family's vast holdings (Appleton, Pepper) to become one of the island's largest landowners.
Read Full Profile →The Transition. The estate passed to Ezekiel's son Barnard, and later to his nephews, the Harmans. During this period of absentee ownership, the estate was managed by the prominent Scottish attorney, Joseph Gordon, who eventually acquired the title himself before facing bankruptcy.
The National Hero. Born to an enslaved woman, Gordon rose to wealth and purchased Cherry Garden to save his father's reputation. He lived here while fighting for the rights of the poor, until his arrest at the house and subsequent execution following the Morant Bay Rebellion.
The Banker. A wealthy manager of the Colonial Bank, Marescaux purchased the property from Gordon's widow. He is responsible for the Great House's current appearance, adding the distinct roofed patios and rich mahogany paneling, transforming it from a plantation house into a banker's mansion.
Preservation. The estate was acquired by the Jones family (Oliver Jones). While the surrounding 300 acres were subdivided to create the prestigious Cherry Gardens neighborhood, the Great House itself remains preserved on approximately 2 acres of private land.