GeorgeTown

Black town – As racist as it sounds was one of the most important places for the early British administration. Madras was founded 378 years ago 🎂 for trade and those beginnings in Fort St. George were dependent on what could be supplied by the first ‘Black Town’, where the High Court-Law College campus now is. After the French occupation and siege of Fort St. George, between 1746 and 1759 in two separate periods, this Black Town was razed and a new Black Town was developed north of Esplanade Road, now called N.S.C. Bose Road. This New Black Town continued to be the main supplier of goods to the merchants of the Fort, ‘White Town’, and, after being renamed George Town in 1911, a major importer of goods apart from prospering on exports. Till well after Independence, George Town remained the heart of business activities in South India.

This bustling business district soon became the headquarters for chaos, congestion and traffic 🚷. Despite the historical significance of this locality, it continues to be ignored by every government. George Town could very well be called as the financial hub 🏭 of the entire city and yet it remains in a dingy state. With the right infrastructure and regulations it could transform into a successful yet hassle free Commercial Street for both vendors and customers.

Source:The Hindu | S.Muthiah

Law College

The Law College began in 1855 when it was still in the campus of the presidency college. It was only 1891 that the principal, Reginald Nelson, felt his College should have premises of its own and Government agreed to his suggestion. The Law college campus was also designed by Henry Irwin who did a splendid job on the High Court building. Built in the style that harmonised with the Indo-Saracenic of the High Court building, it was ready for occupation by 1899. The site assigned for the Law College was at the other end of the High Court campus, the north-western corner which had been part of the ‘Guava Garden’ cemetery meant for the residents of Fort St. George.

Source: MadrasRediscovered

National Flag of 1947

The only surviving vintage national flag in India, hoisted at Fort St. George here on the first Independence day on August 15 1947, is being conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India through multi-pronged efforts. It is meticulously conserved by placing in an air tight wooden-glass showcase.

The 12ft by 8ft pure silk flag, was hoisted after lowering the British Union Jack on August 15, 1947 at 5.05 AM at Fort St. George and was witnessed by thousands of people.

This is the one and only national flag that has been conserved to this day and it is also the only flag that was hoisted on the first Independence day to survive till now.

Source:The Hindu.

st. Mary’s Church – 1680

The St. George fort is not just the seat of power in Tamilnadu. It is a historian’s paradise and the british era had it’s proper beginning here.

St. Mary’s church within the Fort St. George is the first church built by the Anglicans east of suez and the oldest british building in Madras. The excavation work for the church began on March 25, 1678 Lady’s day by Governor Stryensham master. Since the work commenced on annunciation day of the blessed virgin, the church was named St. Mary’s in her honour.

The St. mary’s church is located in a shaded corner in the south east part of the fort. The Building is a solid construction designed by Master Gunner and Bastion designer William Dixon to withstand sieges, cyclones and the ravages of time. The original building was a rectangular box, 60 feet by 90 feet with outer walls four feet thick and a bomb-proofed curve roof, two feet thick. The sanctuary, steeple, tower and vestry were later additions to the brick building that Dixon built. It’s carved teakwood balustrade dates to 1680. The tower detached from the church was built in 1701 and the steeple in 1710. The obelisk shaped spire was added in 1795 after the proposal to make it a lighthouse was turned down. Above the large open windows are lovely stained glass arches that filter a multi-coloured glow in to the church when the windows are closed.

Churches hold much more than biblical stories and legends. They have been the cornerstone in many a historical events. For more interesting stories keep watching this space.

Photo: Frederick Fiebig in c.1851 | BL
Source: Madras Rediscovered | S. Muthiah.

YMCA Building, 1900

YMCA- The Young Men’s Christian association in Muthialpet was one of the first buildings of Madras to be built with American Aid. The YMCA was a sandstone building built in the Jaipura-Jaina-style. The YMCA was established in the year by David McConaughy from the US who arrived in Madras in 1890 at the request of the Indian YMCA. A year after his arrival, He helped found the National Council of YMCA’s in Madras. It was in 1933 that the Association got its first Indian General secretary, G Solomon.

The original site of the YMCA activity in Madras, the Church of England’s temperance institute was acquired and the foundation for the new building was laid there in 1895. The building was designed by Government Architect G S T Harris under the advise of Governor Arthur Havelock and was built by Namberumal Chetty. It was the first public building in madras to be made entirely of stone and was opened in 1900 by Governor Havelock.

Source: Madras Rediscovered