Dream House | An escape in the Blue Mountains

Think of a house nestled 2,600 feet above sea level, an escape way above the city. Think of a house in an idyllic, natural setting, offering unparalleled views and holding memories of prominent owners and distinguished guests. Then think of Craighton House.

With the estate established in 1765, the Georgian great house was built around 1805, and named after its first owner, a Scottish-Italian emigrant coffee farmer, George Craighton Esq.

It is situated on the New Castle Road in the cool atmosphere of Irish Town, part of a now 80-acre (reduced from 400 acres) working coffee plantation. Unusual for a mountain house, it has a large, flat landspace of green lawn at front. When Sir John Peter Grant, governor of Jamaica, lived there, he kept two trained pet sheep to nibble the lawn and keep the grass at a reasonable height. He planted rare trees and flowers taken from all over the world.

Then there was the Earl of Elgin, who purchased the house as his summer residence to escape the heat. Tragedy would sadly strike, as his 22-year-old wife, Elizabeth, Countess of Elgin, died in childbirth, brought on by a shipwreck on a voyage from England. The spooky, disembodied spirit of this young lady refuses to renounce its ties with the house, and is said to still haunt it, the story goes.

Other notables who have occupied the space at one time or another include other British governors, judges, a bishop of Kingston, a failed federation governor general; National Hero George William Gordon, has some tenuous connection to it.

In 1981, the great house and surrounding estate were sold to the Ueshima Coffee Company, the largest coffee company in Japan. Its late chairman used to enjoy staying there when he visited.

Here, at this well-kept, pink-coloured old house, you are pleasantly confronted by polished wood floors running through an entrance hall, partly surrounded by columns; a conversation area; and a formal dining room (above which hangs a large, crystal chandelier suspended from a most captivating dome ceiling). Adjacent is the breakfast pantry area with a nearby kitchen, and many other smaller rooms. An entertainment balcony brings you face to face with nature.

Sweet dreams are made possible with the high-altitude four bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. The spacious, partly circular master affords engrossing views of the awesome misty Blue Mountains.

The U-shaped stairwell allows you to descend the hand-carved staircase to the lower level. Here you find the huge, wood-panelled living room, featuring a fireplace. Off this area is a wide verandah and barbecue facility.

This section has an authentic Japanese bath, complete with sunken tub and shower platform (tiled throughout, including its entire ceiling). Laundry and kitchen complete the cohesive whole.

Paintings and antiques abound, intensifying and dignifying the stately interiors.

A swimming pool (with pool house) is surrounded by a brick patio and a tennis court; both add to the amenities.

We pay homage to the past by valuing and preserving our historic houses. The dire consequences of losing them to neglect is that significant evidence of history would have vanished, and become forgotten to succeeding generations.

I am honoured to have been chosen by the owners years ago to renovate this national treasure, protected by the Government of Jamaica, on behalf of the people, through the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email: barry-rattray@hotmail.com/lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.