St Paul’s Cathedral & Stream In British Era Calcutta, 1865 Photo
An 1865 photo of St Paul’s Cathedral and stream In Calcutta during the British era. The Cathedral with its tall steeple and the Bishop’s house can be seen at the back. Both the buildings are notably Indo-Gothic-style architectural landmarks in Calcutta (Kolkata). A beautiful stream with people around is also seen. Calcutta was until 1911 the capital of British India.
The decision in 1911 to move the capital to Delhi was to give a new base for colonial rule. Delhi had been the capital of many rulers, including the Mughals. The Mughals moved the capital to Delhi from Agra in the middle of the 17th century. Kolkata was originally three small villages on the bank of the River Hoogly. By the 19th century, it became the second-largest city in the British Empire and a center of commerce and finance.
Because of its robust business atmosphere, magnificent buildings came up. Out of which was St Paul’s Cathedral and the Bishop’s house. Designed in the Indo-Gothic style by William Forbes who was also responsible for the design of the Calcutta Mint. The construction of the church began in 1839 and completed in 1847. The conical steeple on the square vertical tower seen in the picture was destroyed in an earthquake in 1934. Thus today, only the vertical square tower stands.
Also read Churches & Synagogues of Colonial. See post Calcutta Horse-Drawn Tram – Old Photo 1880.
Did you know- the British East India Company set up a settlement in Madras, now Chennai in 1639. In 1686 on exploration further north they discovered the three villages where Kolkata would be established.
From the collection- 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#15)., Victoria Carriage In Bombay – Old Postcard 1940., Colaba Point Lighthouse In Mumbai – Old Print 1868., Antique Map of Salsette Bombay 1893
