Chennai Monuments
Session – II
History of Historical Building and Monuments in and around Chennai
Dr. G. Venkataraman Chairperson, School of Historical Studies HOD of the Dept. of Indian History, University of Madras, Prof. A. Anne Shanthi Ph.D., Research scholar, Dept. of History, IDE, University of Madras.
As you all know every building has its own History and like wise the Public buildings built by the British in Chennai City has now become historical monuments worthy of study. Since it has survived for 100 years it has good claim to be called historical monument. Beautiful buildings like Spencers and Moore Market cannot be rebuilt. Thanks to the effort taken by the INTACH, Government and other Non Government bodies that the Senate House is back in form. There are many buildings like the Royapuram, Railway Station, National Art Gallery, Bharat Insurance building, Chepauk Palace Presidency College, Ripon building, Government Fine Arts College etc, that cry for restoration. It is up to the Government to restore these buildings to its former glory and it is the duty of the Citizen to see that no damage is done to these buildings. In this paper I have listed a brief history of the Historical Buildings in and around Chennai in a chronological order. All the Buildings were designed by British Architects who served as Consulting Architects to the British Government. I have arranged it in the following order – Name of the building, period of construction, Name of the Architect, Design / style of the building, Present condition and the last unit is a comparative study of similar buildings in other British presidency towns.
Memorial Hall – 1860 As thanks giving to God for saving Madras from the Revolt of 1857 Designed by Colonel George Winscom and modified by Col. Horsley Classical style with Greek Overtones. Resembles temples in Greece. It is purer in form. Traces of deterioration. Now used for film shootings and sales. Hall if maintained well can be used for social gathering
History of Historical Building and Monuments in and around Chennai
Dr. G. Venkataraman Chairperson, School of Historical Studies HOD of the Dept. of Indian History, University of Madras, Prof. A. Anne Shanthi Ph.D., Research scholar, Dept. of History, IDE, University of Madras.
As you all know every building has its own History and like wise the Public buildings built by the British in Chennai City has now become historical monuments worthy of study. Since it has survived for 100 years it has good claim to be called historical monument. Beautiful buildings like Spencers and Moore Market cannot be rebuilt. Thanks to the effort taken by the INTACH, Government and other Non Government bodies that the Senate House is back in form. There are many buildings like the Royapuram, Railway Station, National Art Gallery, Bharat Insurance building, Chepauk Palace Presidency College, Ripon building, Government Fine Arts College etc, that cry for restoration. It is up to the Government to restore these buildings to its former glory and it is the duty of the Citizen to see that no damage is done to these buildings. In this paper I have listed a brief history of the Historical Buildings in and around Chennai in a chronological order. All the Buildings were designed by British Architects who served as Consulting Architects to the British Government. I have arranged it in the following order – Name of the building, period of construction, Name of the Architect, Design / style of the building, Present condition and the last unit is a comparative study of similar buildings in other British presidency towns.
Memorial Hall – 1860 As thanks giving to God for saving Madras from the Revolt of 1857 Designed by Colonel George Winscom and modified by Col. Horsley Classical style with Greek Overtones. Resembles temples in Greece. It is purer in form. Traces of deterioration. Now used for film shootings and sales. Hall if maintained well can be used for social gathering