Pedro St. James is a living history site. It is the oldest surviving stone structure in the Cayman Islands but was reduced to a ruin after years of abandonment and neglect. Restoration of this former great house and grounds began as an integral part of a five year national tourism strategy to promote the Island’s heritage to both Caymanians and visitors. The Birthplace of Democracy in the Cayman Islands, built around 1780, the castle was the site of the meeting in 1831, whereby the first democratically elected legislative assembly was formed. It was from the Palladian staircase that a Proclamation of Emancipation abolishing slavery was read in 1835.
Commonwealth’s role in this exciting project consisted of project management and site supervision, research and archaeology, architectural and landscape design, building restoration and period furnishings, exhibit, interpretation and sign design, corporate identity and promotional literature. In 1998, this historic site won an Award for Culture and Eco-tourism from the international “Islands” magazine.