Pirate Capital’s Earthquake Battered Giddy House, Jamaica

In the late 17^th Century, Port Royal in Jamaica was the pirate capital of the Caribbean. Which is why the British Royal Navy built Fort Charles there in 1655, in an attempt to control the turmoil of what was considered to be “the wickedest city in the World.”

Former entrance into Port Royal

In 1692, amid the chaos of the massive Jamaica Earthquake and resulting tsunami, a significant section of Port Royal was swallowed up by the sea, and much of the rest of the town was brought to ruins. In 1907, it was hit by the Kingston Earthquake, which was almost as devastating. Today the once rich and mighty city of Port Royal is little more than a village.

Main entrance to Fort Charles, Port Royal

Although damaged by both earthquakes, Fort Charles still survives. During the Kingston Earthquake, one of the fort’s  Royal Artillery storehouses, built to hold gunpowder and weapons, partially sank into the shaking sand on which it was constructed.

The end wall and doorway of the Royal Artillery storehouse dips 15º to the south

The building came to rest at this precarious angle after the 1907 Kingston Earthquake

Today, the building tips at an angle of around 15º. When you pass through the slanted doorway and enter the former storehouse, the tilt plays havoc with your head and balance, resulting in its nickname: the Giddy House.

Walking through the tilted entrance is a really strange sensation

And inside your balance is thrown into even more chaos

This post was inspired by the photo themes of Entrances or Doors from Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Traces of the Past from Paula of Lost in Translation, and Chaos from Ben of The Daily Post.

Entry to the Victoria and Albert Battery, which sank 8-10 feet into the sand of Port Royal during the 1907 earthquake

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