Colonial Bank, Harbour Street, Kingston, Jamaica

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Colonial Bank, Harbour Street, Kingston Cir.1880.

This structure was destroyed in the 1907 earthquake. The structure and architrade was built almost entirely of brick and ornately layered.

In 1880 The Colonial Bank was the only Bank in the Island,it first opened on the 15th May 1834 with a capital of Two Millions sterling subscribed; £600,000 of which was paid up. The Jamaica Managers have been successively John White Cator C; Jno. Vincent Purvier ; William Juner ; Samuel Baird ; Richard Barnes ; Theodore Gordon and Oscar Marescaux. The site of the Bank was originally the office of the Mayor of Kingston, the Hon. George Kinghorn.

... The building to the left of Colonial Bank is the premises of P. B. Desnoes & Son, wine merchants, 76 Port Royal Street, Kingston. Peter Desnoes lived at Camperdown Villa, St. Andrew.

Collection, National Library of Jamaica.

Colonial Bank, Harbour Street, Kingston Cir. 1910

 This would be the new structure built after the 1907 earthquake. A truly stunning building!!

The building to the left of The Colonial Bank is the premises of G. W. Young & CO. Limited. The company name can be seen on the sign over the sidewalk. It is believed this building (Young & CO.) was destroyed in the 1907 earthquake, however it seems that it was built after the earthquake and knocked down before 1920 to make way for The Royal Bank Of Canada.

... The tram car of the West India Electric Co.

Collection, National Library of Jamaica.