BLACK TOWN EUROPEAN PART

               This is a beautiful photograph of European part of Black Town taken by Frederick Fiebig a German Photographer in 1851. The original Black Town was immediately to the north of Fort wall in the area where RBI and High Court are situated now. This was raced to the ground after the war with the French in 1760s and the new Black Town was developed to the north of it in Muthiapet and Peddanaickenpet. The first Europeans to settle in Black Town were Armenians and Portugese. Still there are streets in their names Armenian Street, Portugese Church Street and Coral Merchant Street where Armenians lived and traded in Gems.
       As Madras grew Blacktown became the main commercial centre and many Europeans moved out of the Fort and settled in Black Town. Its Grid pattern layout is the earliest example of English town planning in India.  Three broad streets (North Beach Road, Pophams Broadway and Mint Street) intersect the town with narrow irregular streets running in between. Its name was changed to George Town after the visit of Prince of Wales in the first decade of 20th century.
 

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