St James Market declared Cultural Heritage Property

According to Mitchell, the St James market was declared a National Heritage Property because of its rich historical value.

Declaration of the St James Market, makes the site, the first market to be declared under the National Trust Act of 1991. Mitchell said after 150 years the market still functions the same way it did, when it was first commissioned.

According to Mitchell, the market joins other Heritage Properties already declared. These include The Magnificent Seven around the Queen’s Park Savannah, The National Museum, The Heritage Library on Knox Street, the Red House and The Rosary Roman Catholic Church and many other sties, buildings and monuments.

Mitchell said: “The St James Market has been home to many historical activities for the past 150 years. It has been declared based on the historical activities which have taken place there. There are so many notable cultural events that took place at the market,”Mitchell said.

Some of the memorable cultural events hosted at the market were calypso competitions, town dance, Hosay’ and stick fighting competitions.

Mitchell noted that the market also represented the cultural history and birth of the St James community.

“It represents the evolution of the indentured servants who were the first settlers to St James, 150 years ago. It is the site where produce were bartered.

The building has not been changed significantly; some market vendors are the descendents of some indentured servants who were the first real settlers in St James.

Under the National Trust Act, Mitchell said, “we have been able to declare various sites and buildings like the Magnificent Seven, the Red House, monuments like the monument at Memorial Park, and so many other sites, and buildings,” Mitchell said.

Interim Chairman of the St James Community Improvement Committee, Earl Crosby said he was proud of the declaration. He said the St James community. He said the St James Market has been a beehive of activity for years, and its declaration was a boost to the community.