It’s a charming Caymanian Aesthetic.
Gingerbread trim can be found in cottages and buildings across the islands, a nod to Cayman’s early heritage.
“In Cayman, we would have seen the introduction of gingerbread ornamentation due to the travels of the seamen and the early colonialist settlers,” says architect Lyle Rodney Frederick, principal at Frederick + McRae.
INTRICATE ADDITIONS
Influenced by their overseas travels, the men – also carpenters when not at sea – used their skills to replicate the technique in their homes and other structures.
The intricate, decorative trim was added to porches, columns, exterior walls, roof gables, ridges and balustrades.
“Pastel colours were often used to contrast the house’s white walls,” says Lyle.
The colours also set each home apart from its neighbours, adding a sense of personality and even playfulness to the structure.
ORIGINS
The origins of gingerbread trim can be traced back to the 12th century in the Gothic period and it was a hallmark of Victorian-era architecture. Victorian builders used the trim to transform plain frame cottages into attractive, one-of-a-kind homes.
In Cayman, the decorative woodwork added personality and character, elevating the appeal of these simple homes.
“The structures of the late 1800s through to the 1980s are indicative of a population of modest means in the Cayman Islands,” says Lyle.
EXAMPLES
Examples of this traditional trim can be found in older homes and cottages, such as the McCoy house in South Sound and adorning the exterior walls of venerable restaurant Grand Old House.
Another prime example is the Aldine Franklin house, also known as Miss Cassie’s house. The historic wattle-and-daub cottage was relocated from West Bay to East End and meticulously restored, a project with which Frederick + McRae assisted.
Boggy Sand Road is also home to old-time Caymanian cottages featuring pastel hues and gingerbread trim, evoking the era of ‘the islands that time forgot’ as Cayman was once known.
