Views Of Flora Fountain In British Era Bombay – 7 Postcards
Seven old photo postcards with views of Flora Fountain in British era Bombay (Mumbai). The fountain is within a large and spacious square located in the middle of Esplanade Road (now M G Road). The square provides an artistic traffic island in the heart of the city’s business district. The area in which five of commercial Bombay’s most important roads meet.
The following reference was made at the time of its installation: “The site chosen for its erection is the Esplanade, the most salient and central position of the European quarter of the city.” The fountain was ordered by the “Agri-Horticulture Society.” It was originally intended to be placed in the middle of the Victoria Gardens.
But due to the stock market crash of 1865 and the economic crisis, the company was left lacking the means of financing. It was forced to transfer its assets, including the fountain’s blueprints, to the city municipality. The city municipality decided to move the fountain to its present location in the city.
The sculpture of the fountain was planned and designed by Richard Norman Shaw in England. It officially opened to the city in 1869. Dedicated to Henry Bartle Frere, and was initially called “Frere Fountain.” But in the course of time, Frere’s name was forgotten and was Floral Fountain. As the Goddess of Flowers statue topped the structure. By and by the name changed to Flora Fountain for the ease of remembering. Click on the photo for better view.
Did you know – Bombay’s Jews have claimed from long past, that the name Flora is no other than Flora Sassoon, a great grand daughter of David Sassoon. Once Bombay’s greatest industrialists.
From the collection – Raja Ravi Varma Women Themed Paintings, 5 PCs., Britisher’s Bungalow Colonial India – 3 Old Photos 1880.
The images are of the actual items from my collection. And Not a photocopy, pirated, reproduced, stock photos, or taken from other sources.
