Page 566 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

564  SOUTH INDIA

be among the oldest surviving
British constructions in India. The
45-m (148-ft) tall flagstaff was
erected by Governor Elihu Yale in
1687 to hoist the Union Jack for
the first time in India. Today, the
Indian tricolour flies in its stead.
Yale began his career as a clerk
with the East India Company and
later founded Yale University
in the USA.
Standing to the south of the
Legislature building is St Mary’s
Church, the oldest Anglican
church in Asia. It was built
between 1678 and 1680 by
Secretariat at Fort St George, the seat of Tamil Nadu’s government Streynsham Master, then the
governor of Madras. Memorials,
1 Fort St George in 1749. These ramparts form paintings, antique Bibles
an irregular pentagon, further (including one printed in 1660)
Bounded by North Beach Rd and
EVR Rd. Fort Museum: Tel (044) 2567 reinforced by a ring of earthen and silver are displayed in the
1127. Open Sat–Thu. Closed public walls that slope down to a moat church, and speak of its vibrant
hols. & surrounding the entire complex. history. Both Elihu Yale and
The drawbridges that once led Robert Clive were married in
Britain’s first bastion in India, to the Fort’s five main gates this church, and the three
the nucleus from which an have now been replaced by daughters of Job Charnock
empire grew, was established in a roads. Note that most buildings (see p271) were baptized here
banana grove owned by a farmer in the fort have restricted before the family moved to
called Madrasan. The official access; only St Mary’s Church Bengal. Arthur Wellesley, who
grant for the land, however, was and the Fort Museum are open later became the Duke of
given by Venkatadri Nayak, the to the public. Wellington and triumphed at
deputy of the Raja of Chandragiri The first building to be seen Waterloo, and Robert Clive,
(see p684). The first factory within on entering the Fort through both lived in Fort St George.
the fortified enclosure was the Sea Gate is the Neo-Classical Their residences, Wellesley House
completed on St George’s Day, Secretariat, which is today the and Clive House, still stand, albeit
23 April 1640, and named Fort seat of the government of in a somewhat dilapidated
St George. This was the East Tamil Nadu. Behind it lie the condition, across from the church.
India Company’s main settlement Legislative Council Chambers. To the north is the Parade
until 1772, when Calcutta, now With their handsome classical Ground, formerly Cornwallis
Kolkata, was declared the seat lines and façades embellished Square, which was laid out in
of the government. with gleaming black pillars, 1715. Magnificent parades and
The sloping ramparts, these impressive buildings rallies were held here. To its
with battlements for gun (erected 1694–1732) are said to east are ministerial offices, and
emplacement that can still be
seen today, were designed by
Bartholomew Robins in 1750, Plan of Fort St George
after the original walls were 0 metres 200
destroyed by the French army 0 yards 200

St George
Bastion
St George
Gate
Wallajah
Bastion King's
Barracks
Parade
Wellesley Clive Ground
House House Legislative
Council Chambers
St Mary's Church
Secretariat
Cornwallis Fort Museum
Cupola
Altar in St Mary’s Church with a painting of Gate Sea
Sea
the Last Supper Gate
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p702 and p717
564-565_EW_India.indd 564 26/04/17 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm