Pride, resilience, hard work and perseverance are all traits I learned growing up in rural
Clarendon Jamaica. But knowing how to build a house from scratch using only materials
found on the land? – that’s a whole different ball game.
The WARE Collective wants to preserve buildings but maybe even more importantly is
preserving the knowledge and ensuring intergenerational exchange. This January we
began a 6-week apprentice programme for 6 local St Elizabeth residents to learn the
fundamentals of traditional building methods, such as building a lime kiln, thatching a
roof and Spanish Walling- all with Master Builder Guy Parchment. I am so proud of
these apprentices and I just wish I could be there everyday to absorb the energy of the past and
present.
Join The WARE Collective on a journey of discovery with Guy and his apprentices, Neil,
Baldy, Marsha, Vincent, Blade & July as they help reconstruct a building made of
timber, stone, white lime and red earth…all from scratch. Although we haven’t
confirmed the final name we’ve been calling it the Vassel House, and it was
deconstructed in January 2021.
This adventure will uncover little known aspects of Jamaica’s great heritage and the
shared ideals that links us together and that allow us to move forward.
The Vassel House 2021
The Vassel House being deconstructed, 2021
Marsha, one the WARE Apprentices in traditional building techniques
Marsha shows off her newly acquired skill in Spanish Walling