FORT St.
GEORGE, Chennai
Fort St. George was among the first few basitons built
by the East India Company to protect its interests in
India. This fortification also marks the making of
Madras (Chennai) as a modern city. Presently the
legislative assembly and the secretariat,St. Fort George
was built somewhere around 1635 by the British East
India Company. This fortification was done to protect
any possible attack from the rival companies in those
days. Since then the fort has undergone lot of change
and modifications. Fort St. George was among the first
few basitons built by the East India Company to protect
its interests in India. This fortification also marks
the making of Madras (Chennai) as a modern city.
Presently the legislative assembly and the secretariat,
St. Fort George was built somewhere around 1635 by the
British East India Company. This fortification was done
to protect any possible attack from the rival companies
in those days. Since then the fort has undergone lot of
change and modifications. The fort has a museum which
displays many items from the British raj and memorabilia
of the East India company. The relic of British era
preserved in museum has been a reminder of a period of
oppression and struggle. The museum also has a good
collection of some fine contemporary paintings. Within
the fort premises is the oldest surviving British church
in India, St. Mary's Church.
This Church is also the first English church in Madras.
St. Mary's was the venue for the marriage of Lord Clive.
The church was built in 1678. Towards the North of the
fort is the High Court compound which is build in Indo
Sarcenic architectural style. Within this compound
stands the Lighthouse erected in 1844, which was
superceded by another one in 1971. The later one is not
so impressive as the first one.
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