Porus is a village in Manchester, Jamaica, that overlooks a plain to the south, with hills behind it to the north. A tributary of the Rio Minho runs parallel to the main road, helping to keep the atmosphere cool.
History Porus was founded in 1840 by the missionary James Phillippo as a free village for ex-slaves following emancipation. It was his sixth such village. It was originally called Vale Lionel after the then Governor of Jamaica, Sir Lionel Smith, but was soon renamed "Porous", most probably after the porous soil in the vicinity. It was described as a "small estate" on the journey from Savanna-la-Mar to Kingston taken by M. G. Lewis, a plantation owner, in 1817.Lewis, M.G., Journal of a Residence Among the Negroes in the West Indies (J. Murray, 1845), p. 163.
In its early days, the village had a very small population, although it boasted a large coffee market. It is now a thriving community of predominantly small farmers and artisans.
Thomas Albert Samuel Manley, father of Norman Washington Manley, one of Jamaica's National Heroes, was born in Porus in 1852.Ranston, J., From We Were Boys: The Story Of The Magnificent Cousins, The Rt. Excellent Sir William Alexander Bustamante And The Rt. Excellent Norman Washington Manley (1999), p. 14.
Transport
Road Porus is on the A2 road, which runs from Spanish Town in south central Jamaica to Savanna-la-Mar on the south-west coast.UK Directorate of Overseas Surveys 1:50,000 map of Jamaica Sheet G, 1973.
Rail From 1895 to 1992, Porus was served by Porus railway station on the Kingston to Montego Bay line. Although all services on the line have ceased, the extensive (for Jamaica) station buildings remain. Future generations are hoping to rebuild these services better than ever.Aerial view of the station.
Public amenities There are seven schools, (Porus District of churches) churches, a post office, a police station, a comprehensive health clinic, and various small retail outlets.
See also List of cities and towns in Jamaica
References
External links Photos: Fruit stall Downtown Bar Fruit stall Fruit stall Police station Community centre Methodist church United church School Station Train []