MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Those who make the annual pilgrimage to Norman Manley’s birthplace at Roxborough on Thursday to celebrate the national hero’s birth are likely to be well pleased.

After years of frustration and complaints about the failure of the authorities to upgrade, restore and adequately maintain the historic site, significant improvement work has been done over the last three months.

The work is by no means complete, but the 19th-century stone and mortar building in which Manley was born and spent his first few years, has been partially restored and is now to be used as a museum. Three walls and a roof have been erected to complement the front of the building, which served as a façade following the destruction of the original building by fire in 1968.

An old stone wall in the immediate vicinity of the house has been carefully restored to reflect the original look; old rain-water catchment facilities, including a tank and run-off barbecue, are also being restored. With the help of the Jamaica Horticultural Society, the spacious grounds, with a panoramic view of much of central Manchester, have been developed to include a rose garden, inclusive of Manley’s favourite plants.

The plan is for solar energy to be used to power the museum, the nearby caretaker’s house, and other facilities to be developed over time.

Long before they arrive at the historic site, Thursday’s visitors will be seeing improvements. That’s because the nearly one-mile long access road from the Belritiro main road, once bumpy and potholed, is being resurfaced. Signage pointing the way to Roxborough is being cited as an important part of the project.

For Tony Freckleton, chairman of the South Coast Resort Board who outlined the improvement plan to journalists seven months ago, the development work at Roxborough is a deeply emotional case of “promise delivered, promise kept”.

“Words cannot express how I feel,” Freckleton told the Jamaica Observer Central by telephone. “I am extremely proud of the fact that Roxborough is now shaping up to be the centrepiece of heritage tourism in Manchester,” he said.

Freckleton, as well as Ainsley Henriques, chairman of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), which has over-arching responsibility for the protection and preservation of historic sites such as Roxborough, had rich praise for a wide array of public sector agencies and private contractors for the “outstanding” work done so far.

“This is a perfect example of what can be done when there is joined-up government working together for the good of the country,” said Freckleton.

Henriques, whose agency has kept a keen eye to ensure the historic site is not compromised by the development work, was pleased that the cost so far was “only about half” the orginal estimate of just over $42 million. Funding is coming from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

“I am very excited by it all … it (project) has come together beautifully,” Henriques told the Observer Central.

Like Freckleton, Henriques visualises a day when revenue will be earned from what will be a “permanent exhibition” with “people booking to have functions there” including wedding receptions, family get-togethers and picnics.

Currently, the only event at Roxborough is the annual July 4 celebration.

But Freckleton has visions of a developed camp site which will “allow hundreds of young people, especially males, to better understand their history and the legacy of Norman Manley”. Over time, he says, the orginal house will be fully restored to allow the evolution of a museum facility as a “suitable” tribute to the contribution of Manley, often described, alongside his cousin and political rival Sir Alexander Bustamante, as father and founder of modern Jamaica.

As the situation now stands, the land under the control of the authorities amount to only about three-and-a-half acres. But Freckleton says there is an active move now to “recover” the original 400 acres, which historians say were bought by Norman Manley’s father, Thomas Albert Samuel Manley, in the late 19th century. Prior to that, the land was part of the old ‘Roxbro Castle’ estate.

According to a note on the JNHT website, “On the 4th of July, 1893 Norman Manley was born on the property. He lived there until 1903 when his father died and the family moved to their Belmont property at Guanaboa Vale” in St Catherine.

Freckleton says the long-term plan is to make Roxborough an “iconic” example of Jamaica’s preserved heritage and a “world-class” heritage tourism attraction.

“It’s not just about building a museum. The end result will be a place where, when you visit, you will leave feeling inspired. In these challenging times, Jamaicans need inspiration… never again will Roxborough only be [relevant] on July 4th,” he said.

Freckleton says that for the next phase of development at Roxborough — including the equipping of a permanent museum and the building of a camp site complete with small cabins — it would be crucial that stakeholders in Manchester, such as educational institutions, partner with the heritage trust.

“We the people of Manchester, we have an obligation to ensure that Roxborough, from here on lives,” he said.

A proper management structure would have to be developed and a Friends of Roxborough Foundation, aimed at raising development funds, would be formalised.

Freckleton hailed the work so far of specialists assigned to the project, as well those employed to contractors Black Brothers.

“The love and caring attitude they have shown to make sure the history and beauty of the place is not compromised is something to behold,” said Freckleton.

The Roxborough project is one of several being promoted by the South Coast Resort Board to enhance heritage and community tourism in its coverage area. That extends from Ferris Crossing in Westmoreland, through St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon.

Freckleton says about $250 million will be spent over the next two to three years, on “areas of interest” on the south coast, in partnership with other agencies of Government.

First formed in the 1990s, geographic resort boards, including the South Coast Resort Board, were disbanded in 2008 before being re-established by the People’s National Party (PNP) Government in early 2012.