Miss Hilary's House on Lydnhurst Avenue has quite literally evolved through time. It began life as a tiny, rectangular, wattle and daub structure with a hipped roof, isolated in a sprawling 'backwoods' area of Half Way Pond. It has since grown to encompass shady porches, shiplap extensions, bold oversized columns, red brick footpaths, a guesthouse where the 'cookrum' once stood and even Lyndhurst Avenue itself was constructed by the owners for the use of their new Model T Ford in the 1920's! In keeping with tradition, until recently, ownership of the property was passed down through the family, and each generation left its mark on their individual chapter in the life of the home. However, if the story ended here, it might seem that there was little more to discuss than a pretty, somewhat quaint, Caymanian structure. But Miss Hilary's House represents something more deeply profound and far-reaching than this.

To view the house today is to see a structure far removed from its initial beginnings. At the core, wattle and daub walls, built during simple times in the late 1800's, form the heart of this home. Basic ingredients: limestone and cabbage wood, ironwood posts, two rooms that offered shelter and sanctuary to a family of eleven in their time. Timothy Thompson must surely have felt immense pride when he built this home for his fiancé. How many times, one wonders, did he dream of his wife and nine children sleeping safely within these walls as his schooner, the 'Varuna', braved the Caribbean seas? How many times did he yearn to return to the sanctity of his home and family? It is said that old homes absorb the people who have lived in them and the Hilary Thompson House is prime evidence of this old saying. There is a wisdom within these walls that have witnessed nearly a century of family living that could speak volumes to up and coming generations.

Over the years, as the family diversified and traveled, they always returned home with their treasures from overseas. In Mary Lawrence's 1974 feature article for The Northwester's Homes Of Cayman, she documents the 'beautiful mahogany tables "from Mother's time"' which stood side by side with an inlaid mother-of-pearl one brought from South America by Miss Hilary's brother. Austrian vases, Brazilian scatter rugs, brass bells from India, books from all over the world–all manner of ornaments and souvenirs graced the shelves. Like the islands themselves, the Hilary Thompson House reflects the true multicultural nature of the Caymanian society with its vast array of influences and cultures. Yet, more importantly, it has always managed to preserve its unshakable identity. It is, in very essence, uniquely Caymanian.

Following the deaths of her parents, Timothy and Jane Thompson, daughter Hilary took over ownership of the house. In 1940, various changes were made to the home, such as the addition of plumbing and electricity, yet every new adaptation was made in a way that maintained the integrity of the original structure. The new, quite literally, embraces the old, protecting it and enhancing it in a way that refuses to compromise those initial, simple, wattle and daub walls. When the house was recently sold to its current owners, it was with the understanding that they would not demolish the structure. In fact, the new owners have continued the Thompson's tradition of sympathetic development and have gone to great lengths to honour the history of the Hilary Thompson House in every addition they have undertaken. Creative landscaping complements the charm of this exquisite home, recreating the illusion of solitude and isolation by using a jungle of exotic and endemic flora and fauna. And quietly, in the South East corner of the property, lies the Thompson family graveyard–once again, still an integral part of the spirit of this special place.

It is unrealistic, not to mention foolhardy, to imagine that anything can be freeze-framed in time and protected completely against the winds of change, yet the Hilary Thompson House provides the perfect prototype for want-to-be developers. It offers a paradigm for sympathetic development; a way to move forward whilst maintaining a respect and regard for the past. It is a home that bridges the gap between past and present, native and foreign, modern and historic–in its walls the 'island that time forgot' meets the twenty-first century.

Special Points of Interest:

• The original structure was a rectangular wattle and daub cottage that measured approximately 18' x 24'. Its ironwood posts went directly from the ground to the roof. It originally had a hip roof.
• The original house is believed to have been built sometime between 1878 and the 1890's.
• The original structure consisted of two rooms: a bedroom and a living room separated by a hallway. There also existed two ancillary buildings: a kitchen, or cookrum and a dining room.
• In the 1940's, timber additions were added to create an overall bungalow style house.
• A combination of gable and hip roofs creates an interesting roof line.
• The house is lifted approximately 1 foot off the ground.
• The entire house is painted white with dark green accents.
• The property is equipped with a well which dates back to when the original structure was built. The well continues to function today.

Last Updated: 27 Jun 2012