History of the Hills (DID YOU KNOW?)

Continuing where we left off, the following are a few interesting facts about Laventille's history.


Did you know that Laventille was once called Freetown?Laventille was once a Yoruba Town nicked named “Free Town”. Many of the freed creoles who migrated to Trinidad from other Caribbean islands sought refuge in the hills that over looked Port of Spain. Also, after the emancipation of slavery, upon fleeing the plantations, many of the ex-slaves joined their already freed brothers and found refuge in the hills that overlooked Port of Spain, adding yet another layer to the name “Free Town”. There they were fed and housed by the bountiful land.



Did you know that Laventille was once the defender of Port of Spain?
In 1797, after becoming governor of Trinidad, Sir Thomas Picton, was determined to protect his island from foes both seen, and unseen. He wanted a way to defend the capital of Port of Spain without building a series of forts all around it. His thus eyes diverted to the Laventille Hills that overlooked Port of Spain.

Meticulously, Governor Picton built a Fort Picton, with walls he believed to be cannon proof. The Fort was officially opened in 1798. Though Fort Picton was never actually used, remnants of the Fort, pictured below, still remain today; a reminder of a time with Laventille was the protector of Port of Spain.


Fort Picton, Laventille | Photograph: Copyright Noel Norton





Did you know that Laventille was home to quarries?

Quarrying in Laventille (1910)


The Laventille quarries, when they existed, where famous for their blue limestones. They supplied material that was used to develop Port of Spain and environs for centuries. Some of the buildings constructed from Laventille’s blue limestones include:

· Governor’s (President’s) House (1876)

· Stollmeyer’s Castle (1904)

· Police Headquarters (1892)

· St James Barracks (1827)

· Royal Gaol (1812)

· Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1816-32)

These limestones fondly referred to as “blue metal” was easy to manipulate, pretty and and durable. Extricated in slabs, the raw material was carted down to building sites where skilled masons cut them into pieces and fitted them like jigsaw puzzles.

In addition to erecting buildings, Laventille’s “blue metal” played a significant part in reclaiming the Port of Spain harbor and the development of Sea Lots. The consequential use of these lime stones was in the construction of the Churchhill-Rosevelt Highway.



Do you know how Observatory Street got its name?
In 1783, Spanish astronomer, Don Cosmo, built an observatory in the hills of Laventille. Access was needed to and from the observatory. A road was thus built leading up to it. The street was aptly named Observatory Street.





The construction of this observatory in 1783 meant that Laventille was home to the first meridian of the New World. Originally called “Charruca Observatory”, today however, Charruca’s building is called Fort Chacon.

Fort Chacon is the only fort in Trinidad that has never actually been a fort.