HSJ

High Hope Estate
Over 200 years ago, High Hope
Estate was the site of a retirement
home for British military officers.
Before that, there is evidence that the
indigenous people of Jamaica, the
Arawak Indians, found the property,
situated as it is at 550 feet, to be a
useful vantage point from which to
observe approaching ships. It is fair
to assume that the Arawaks were
standing in the very spot on which
the villa of High Hope now stands,
when they first spotted Christopher
Columbus’ ships arriving in the new
world over 500 years ago.
Today High Hope Estate is a fifteenth
century Venetian-style luxury villa
set in 40 acres of land overlooking
the Caribbean coastline on the north
shore of Jamaica, merely 10 miles
from Ocho Rios. Built in 1961 at a
cost of $2 million, the villa is
adorned with priceless antiques.
The eighteenth century Moroccan
harem, and nineteenth century
Korean silk screens, a Steinway baby
grand piano, and Italian marble floors
reflect an era of distinguished
elegance for which its previous
owners, Kitty and Derek Spence
were known.
Kitty Owen Spence was a model
for the well-known Maxfield Parrish
paintings of the 1920s, and granddaughter
of three-time Presidential
candidate William Jennings Bryan.
Her given name was Ruth, but it
was generally unused because her
mother's name was the same.
Kitty’s mother, Ruth Bryan Owen
was a Democratic Representative
in Congress from Florida, who
became the first female United
States Ambassador when President
Roosevelt sent her to Denmark.
She introduced Kitty to the island
of Jamaica, for which they both
developed a lifelong love.
Kitty was a very beautiful and
fascinating woman. The extremes of
her personality are seen throughout
the property. As an example, Kitty
had Great Danes as well as
Chihuahuas. Kitty was known as an
eccentric, fun loving spirit. She even
had the pool moved from the upper
level of the lawn to a lower level on
the property because she enjoyed
swimming in the nude and did not
want to offend her guests. Kitty was
married four times; her marriage to
Derek being the fourth.
Continued on next page
Home Sweet Jamaica | August 2012 19