Imagine a 300-year-old cluster of hand-hewn stone buildings next to the sea. Gun slots in 18-inch stone walls conjure a tale of soldiers defending the wharf and its sugar trade from Caribbean pirates and foreign invaders.

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Now enter the 21^st Century and recreate the image as a casual compound with a kitchen, bathrooms, air-conditioned bedrooms, cable television, sound system and tiled swimming pool. This is today's Wharf House ~ a comfortable home on the water's edge which has preserved a piece of history and added contemporary charm and comfort ~ while retaining a definite rustic quality.

The site is comprised of five buildings. Walkways connect living spaces, swimming pool and deck. Two stately old cotton trees grace the lawns. The property is indeed waterfront and has a small sandy beach. Wave action may sometimes leave the water's edge strewn with pebbles, which the gardener will remove each day if necessary. For a larger beach, Round Hill is just a 10-minute drive west.

The Main House consists of the casual living room with television and high rafter-and-beam ceiling. Adjacent is the large indoor dining area which features antique Chippendale chairs around a gleaming 10' mahogany table. All rooms share a wonderful collection of contemporary Haitian and Jamaican art. Floors throughout are stone, brick and dark mahogany. While museum-quality antique sideboards, chests and cupboards are reminders of past centuries, Wharf House is designed for comfort and fun. Living room furniture is wicker slipcovered in washable white canvas so guests can feel free to put their feet up and relax.

Adjoining the living and dining rooms are the two front bedrooms and connecting bathroom. Two detached cottages hold two additional bedrooms. On the sea side of the Main House, wide mahogany doors open to a terrace of old brick and a 60' over-the-water wooden deck. Sunrise here is a time of day to treasure ... with a cup of rich Jamaican eye-opener coffee and the morning songs of doves. At dusk, if clouds dot the sky, the sunset is beautiful.

This part of the Bay is an environmentally protected Marine Water Park. The ocean view over turquoise water is lovely. By day, children love to feed the fish from the deck. Evenings, the deck is a breezy spot for home-cooked dinners under the stars. The view becomes a glamorous light show reflecting over the water from the town of Montego Bay and lighted cruise ships. If you've left your pets behind, be advised that The Wharf House is home to three happy dogs (one handsome Rottweiler and two beautiful German Shepherd mix). They tend to stay on the west side of the property out of guests' awareness. If you wish, they can be kept in their kennel by the staff quarters and allowed to run only at night.

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Bedrooms
Master Cottage:
Kingsize 4-poster bed, en-suite bathroom with tub-shower combination. Right next to the sea. Beautiful sea view all day. Romantic night view of lights of Montego Bay shimmering across the water. The rhythm of waves lapping the shore lulls guests in this room to sleep each night.

Cottage
2 Twin 4-poster beds, en-suite bathroom with tiled walk-in shower. Bedroom opens to central garden. Bathroom opens to pool terrace. Sea and garden views.

Main House:
Queen Room Queensize 4-poster bed. Shares connecting bathroom with Child’s Bedroom. Double-basin vanity and tub-shower combination. Ideal for parents or nanny sharing this suite with children. Sea and garden views.

Children's Bedroom
Low toddler-height twin beds (38"x74" mattresses ... one inch less than adult twins). Shared bathroom connects to Queen Room. Also available to teens or adults. Powder Room In passageway by living room ~ 4th full bathroom with tub-shower combination

CHILDREN'S PLAY COTTAGE
The old brick building that housed a kitchen in 1755 is now a fully outfitted child's dream cottage. Stuffed animals, dolls, toys, games and miniature furniture fill this little fantasy room ... plus rocking lion, dollhouse with 4 tiny furnished rooms, Fisher-Price play kitchen, dressing-up clothes and little 4-poster bed for afternoon naps. Employment of a sweet Jamaican nanny enables the best of all holiday worlds: carefree parents and enthralled children not far away.

Amenities

• 18th Century waterfront wharf house restored as family home
• 4 air-conditioned bedrooms ... 2 in Main House and 2 in detached cottages
• Children’s Play Cottage, games cupboard, videos, pool toys
• full staff: cook, butler, housekeeper, laundress, gardeners
• complimentary sea kayak
• 15’ x 30’ swimming pool
• cable television, DVD player, VCR, sound system with CD player
• large old stone barn with ping pong, wet bar and powder room
• Wireless Internet access (bring your laptop)
• Wonderful for families
• Round Hill membership: complimentary beach, tennis, gym, heated pools for parents & children, jogging trail. For various fees: Kids Club, tennis lessons, hair salon & spa, bars & restaurants, gift shop, water sports, Internet room, beach parties Monday-Wednesday-Friday.
• Tryall Club membership: complimentary beach, tennis, gym, heated pool, Kids Club, non-motorized water sports, Internet room, art gallery, jogging trail, afternoon tea & Manager’s Cocktail Party. For various fees: golf, tennis lessons, Happy Hour, hair salon & spa, bars & restaurants, cigar & jewelry shop, motorized water sports, beach parties Monday-Wednesday-Friday.

A special amenity available to Wharf House guests is membership at Round Hill ... a 10-minute drive from the villa and one of the finest private resorts on Jamaica's North Coast. Membership entitles guests to access Round Hill's private beach, fitness center (treadmill, free weights, rowing machine and guided aerobics) and tennis on hard-surface courts lighted for night play and with pro on call. (Charges apply to lessons and ball boys.) Round Hill also offers a jogging trail, gift shop, logo shop, beach bar, piano bar, Continental cuisine in the hotel restaurant ... and unforgettable long sunsets from the waterfront terrace. For additional charges, members may enjoy the spa, Pineapple Kids Club, a range of water sports and parties (Monday beach party, Wednesday Caribbean Curry Night, Friday Jamaica Night). Here too is the Business Center with high-speed broadband stations and printers. (Internet access is billed at $13.50 per hour or $22 per 24 hours for guests to connect their own laptop.)