Fort St George, Madras: View From Inside The Walls, 1890 Photo
A rare 1890 photograph of Fort St George, Madras (Chennai), with a view from inside the walls. Fort St George, located in the heart of Chennai, stands as a living monument to India’s colonial past and administrative present. Within its fortified walls lies a fascinating blend of history, architecture, and governance. It was the focal point of South India’s evolution under the East India Company.
The notable buildings inside the Fort St George are the Secretariat building, St Mary’s Church, and the Fort Mess (shown in the photo). The mess is now the Fort Museum. Scattered across the Fort’s precincts are several structures that once formed the backbone of the British administration. These include the former Accountant-General’s Office, which served as the Government House until 1799, along with colonial barracks, officers’ quarters, and other military buildings that reflect the architectural aesthetics of the time.
Fort St George remains the first British Fortress in India. It is viewed as the birthplace of modern Chennai, offering a compelling glimpse into the city’s layered past. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know – Fort St George once housed the early “Madras Bank,” which later evolved into the Bank of Madras, one of the three banks that merged to form today’s State Bank of India.
Past posts – M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art On Paper (#8)., Marina & Senate House British Era Madras – 5 Postcards 1900., View Of Bangalore From St Andrew’s Church 1890., Overland Route To India Before Opening of Suez Canal, 1851 Map
