Description of Chingleput in 1828
Chingleput which is around 50km from Chennai was a Jaghire obtained in 1750 and 1763 from the Nawab of Arcot in return for the services rendered to him and to his father by the EIC and was rented to the Nabob on renewed lease until 1780 when the Madras presidency assumed the direct management. This district was twice invaded by Hyder Ali in 1768 and in 1780 when he ravaged it with fire and sword so effectively that at the termination of later war in 1784 hardly any other signs were left in many parts of the country of its ever having been inhabited than the bones of the massacred and the naked walls of the houses, choultries and temples that has been destroyed.
To the havoc of the war succeeded a destructive famine and the emigration from these combined causes nearly completed the depopulation of the country. In 1790 the Jaghire was divided into two collectorships; but in 1794 was United again under the management of Mr . Place who continued until 1798 during which period it gradually improved. Around 1822 the total population of the district amounted to 363129 persons with a revenue of 413034 Pagodas. Inside the battlements of inner fort in the ruins of the palace the public functionaries of the station had their courts and offices around 1828.
Pic: Chingleput Fort in 1913
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