Cardiff Hall Great House, built in 1789, was once a beautiful Georgian manor and a Jamaica National Heritage Trust landmark, located on the north coast of Jamaica in the Parish of St. Ann. In its past, it had been a vast estate and farm, but now it is a family home, our home, cherished by the generations of Jamaicans who have grown up there.

It has weathered many storms and hurricanes (even pirates), but has been brought low by Hurricane Melissa and now faces ruin. On Tuesday, October 28, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on the island as a Category 5 hurricane, leaving destruction in its wake. The winds caused catastrophic damage to our house and the surrounding property. The house no longer has a roof, leaving the historic interior and our personal belongings exposed to the elements. Windows are broken, and walls are in disrepair. Hurricane Melissa has left us devastated and unsure of whether we will be able to recover and rebuild.

We ask for your help in rebuilding our home and preserving a piece of Jamaica’s history. Donations from this GoFundMe will go directly to the rebuilding and restoration of Cardiff Hall. Our priority is to prevent further weather damage by covering the house.

“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” (Isaiah 9:10)

Please help Jamaica in any way you can, whether through us, by donating to trusted organizations, or volunteering with relief efforts. We will have a long road ahead of us, but we are a nation built on community, and we will come together to rebuild stronger than before.

With immense gratitude,

The Rance Family