West Indian Wealth in West Devon: Jamaica and the Maristow Estate

with Dr Malcolm Cross (Former director of the European Research Centre for Migration and Ethnic Relations at the University of Utrecht where he was Professor of Comparative Social Science)

Maristow House in West Devon has a rich, remarkable and little-known history. The Estate on the eastern banks of the Tavy near its confluence with the Tamar and just north of Tamerton is a fine example of the

complexities that arose from the Caribbean encounter. In the 17th century the family interest was in the building of plantation society. Jamaica became a British colony in 1655 and two brothers from Exeter – one of whom lived at Maristow – played a leading role in this process.

A second family with roots in both locations established themselves in the early years of the following century. They became the classical absentee owners of slave plantations, never actually visiting Jamaica or ever meeting an enslaved individual. Later the estate received another injection of Jamaican capital but not from plantation ownership but from providing the means that enabled it to thrive.

These three families illustrate the complexities of the Caribbean connection. Wealth, social standing and political power are the avenues to influence and all three can be observed in this one house, but in different combinations over time.

Image credit: (Devonshire Illustrated 1832 - engraved by W.A. Petit) Maristow, Devonshire

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