Historic Buildings Walking Tour (Self Guided), Port of Spain

A group of mansions in northern Port of Spain, located on Maraval Road, to the west of the Queen's Park Savannah, is known colloquially as “The Magnificent Seven”. They were built between 1902 and 1910 on the land that was previously used as a government stock farm. Together with the nearby President's House, the official residence of the President of Trinidad and Tobago, which is just “round the corner”, next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, these buildings are listed as heritage sites by the country's National Trust.

These structures feature an array of architectural styles, such as French Colonial, Scottish Baronial, Indian Empire, and Moorish Mediterranean-often blended with Caribbean architecture. Many of them have unusual elements, like the chiming clock and lighted clock tower of Queen's Royal College, and the Scottish cast iron elements coupled with traditional Demerara windows in Hayes Court.

Some of the houses are made of imported materials, like Italian marble and white limestone of Barbados, and most of them have retained the aesthetics of their original designs. Stollmeyer's Castle, the first building in the neighborhood, is said to be modeled after a wing of Balmoral Castle, a residence of the British royal family in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The majority of these properties were originally built as residences and kept within families for decades. Archbishop's House was built as, and still remains, the official home of the Archbishop of Port of Spain, while the Anglican Bishop to Trinidad lives in Hayes Court. Queen's Royal College was built as a secondary school for boys.

White Hall, in its turn, was used as the Office of the Prime Minister, from 1963 to 2009, and together with Stollmeyer's Castle, it falls under the purview of the PM's Office. Both buildings underwent profound restoration so they could be used by foreign dignitaries visiting the country.

As for the President's House, today, apart from being the President's private residence, it is used for national awards and swearing-in ceremonies, as well as for diplomatic receptions.

For a more detailed acquaintance with these marvelous structures, take our self-guided walking tour.