Giddy House, Artillery storage building at Fort Charles in Port Royal, Jamaica
The Giddy House is a former artillery storage building within Fort Charles that tilts noticeably due to ground settling after the 1907 earthquake. It was constructed to house weapons and ammunition, and its lopsided position offers a direct reminder of the geological forces that reshaped Port Royal that day.
The building was completed in 1888 as a storage facility for the Royal Artillery serving the Victoria and Albert Battery. The 1907 earthquake devastated Port Royal and triggered soil liquefaction that permanently damaged this structure along with much of the town.
The building reflects Port Royal's role as a major British military outpost in the Caribbean, where naval operations shaped the region for generations. Walking through it today, visitors sense how important this garrison was for controlling the islands.
The building sits within Fort Charles and is accessible through guided tours or independent visits organized from Kingston. Visitors should expect uneven floors and tilted walls inside, as the building's significant lean affects how the space feels and how you move through it.
The extreme lean of the building creates a disorienting sensation inside, where visitors automatically adjust their balance even though standing on relatively level ground. This effect is partly optical but also physical, caused by the bulging walls and tilted floors that make equilibrium feel unstable.
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