First line beach 1900

     First line Beach with the Bentick Buildings and Cenotaph Cupola outside  it. The Arbuthnott building and GPO towers(1884)can be seen in the far end. The picture must have been taken around 1900s since the tram lines are already in position.
        The First Line Beach  was developed in early 1800s  when the sea customs was shifted out of Fort St George by the  Governor  and the Supreme court was established in Bentick building in the  around 1817.  Other Commercial establishments followed suit and there was a row of buildings two to three storeyed èxtending from Parry House  to Clive Battery  in the North. For  a Englishman landing for the first time in Madras it would have been a pleasant sight from the Sea to watch  these row of beautiful buildings with the towers of Temple, Mosque and Churches of Black Town in the background. In the  second half of the 19th century the Madras  harbour was constructed which made it the busiest commercial stretch of Madras.

Comments

cvv said…
Sir,this is one rare photograph . Can u share ur email I'd .I am looking for the building next to this bentick building, the Custom House
9:43 AM
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