King George Lays Foundation Stone In Bombay, 1905 Print
A 1905 print of Prince of Wales of England better known as the future King George V in Bombay. This page is from the Black & White London based newspaper of 9th December 1905. The title reads- The Royal Visit To India: The Prince Of Wales Lays The Foundation-Stone Of The New Museum, Bombay.
King George V (Prince of Wales) and Queen Mary, between 1905-06 had a busy four-month tour of India. Despite the hectic tour, their itinerary included the laying of the foundation stone of a new museum (shown in this print). The Museum was named in his honour The Prince Of Wales Museum, now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.
However, in 1914 just before its completion, the museum was turned into a hospital. It was used as a much needed hospital from the beginning of WW1 up till the end of the war. By 1918 the building was returned back, after taking two years to complete the finishing work. The then Governor’s wife, Lady Lloyd, formally opened the Museum in 1920. George Wittet, the British architect, designed the building by using the Indo-Saracenic style.
See post- Vintage Postcard Bombay Prince of Wales Museum. Also read- Mumbai History.
Did you know- the construction of the Gateway of India commenced in 1913 and was completed in 1924 in recognition of the King’s visit.
From the collection- Antique Stereo Photo British Era Postman., Old Book – From Lisbon To Calicut 1956., Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Saraswati” Oleograph., Antique Print Madras Railway Goods Engine.
