The Lake House, near Moneague, St. Ann, Jamaica

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

The Lake House, near Moneague, St. Ann. This lovely 18th Century Georgian house stands on a hill overlooking the mysterious Moneague Lake from which it takes its name. It was originally built by the Purcell family, who also owned the 18th Century Moneague Tavern and one can see certain similarities between the two buildings. The interior of the house has some very fine 18th Century Georgian mahogany and cedar woodwork. The Lake House has always had the reputation of being haunted and one particular "Duppy" story tells of the ghost of a female Slave who is seen ascending the outside stone staircase carrying a Clay Jar of water on her head. However she always vanishes suddenly just before she reaches the door to the house. This Ghost has not been seen for many years. From the 1970s to the 1990s The Lake House was owned by the late Donald Pringle, the last surviving son of Sir John Pringle. I had lunch with him there a couple of times. It was a very atrmospheric house furnished with lots of fine antiques from the various Great Houses in Jamaica that the Pringles had once owned. I particularly remember a very rare set of six 18th Prints of Jamaica. However the house had a rather eerie feel to it. A later owner, Shirley Playfair, a Kingston lawyer who was a prominent Member of the Georgian Society of Jamaica, was brutally murdered at her law office in Kingston. I sense that there are many unquiet spirits at The Lake House and I definitely wouldn't want to
spend the night there if the electricity went off.

I forgot to mention that in the Late 19th Century The Lake Pen was one of many plantations in St. Ann owned by Judge Findlater Roper who was one of the largest landowners in Jamaica at the time. In the 1890s his daughter, Christine Roper (1877-1918), married the Hon. Samuel Constantine Burke II (1867-1953), who was also a prominent Judge and a well-known Polo Player in Jamaica. Shortly after their marriage he gave them The Lake House, near Moneague, St. Ann, as a Wedding Present. I have in my Private Collection a Silver Cigarette Case which once belonged to the Hon. Samuel Constantine Burke II. It is was made in Birmingham, England in 1924 and bears the following inscription, "S.C.B. from Ja. Team, 1925". I presume it was a gift from the Jamaica All-Island Polo Team.

Built in the late eighteenth 1756 century during the time known in Jamaica as the 'Georgian period'( 1720-1850,),in a town once considered to be the town of the landed gentry and against a backdrop of beautiful landscape.

The Lake House is poised majestically atop a hill in cool town of Moneague, in the parish of St Ann.

The name was coined as lakes can be seen from of the house. The original stone foundation can be seen upon entering the property and the timber wood used for the construction of the upper house and living quarters can be seen within the house and on a brief trip into to the basement.

The two-storey building with its high ceilings, polished wood floors and original shuttered casement windows offers a mirror into regal Jamaican old-style country living.

The Lake House remains one of the structures the town is famous for.
Location

Located near the main road, the Lake House not only offers easy access into to the town of Moneague with its warm, friendly and helpful people but also to the nearby resort town of Ocho Rios and the business hub and main city, Kingston.
Living quarters

The Lake House, with its spacious, attractive and comfortable living and dining areas, flat lawns, swimming pool and gazebo leaves you with the distinct feeling of a home away from home. Upon waking to the cool crispness of the morning one is greeted to the magnificence of the heavy dew on the grass, the fog kissing the surrounding mountainside and aroma of a warm Jamaican breakfast wafting from our kitchen.

This is the perfect start to the fun-filled day ahead. The Lake House, with is warm and friendly staff is the perfect getaway for that romantic weekend or for fun and frolic with family and friends.

Accommodation

Accommodation consists of three large bedrooms. Two bedrooms are furnished with antique four poster beds and their own private bathrooms.

The largest bedroom, with its own bathroom has antique twin beds and a double bed for larger accommodation. The rooms can be rented individually.

Attractions

Contact
For more information and on availability and bookings please contact: lakehousemoneague@gmail.com