The Maidan, Calcutta, from Government House - 1860s

Photograph from the Vibart Collection, of the Maidan at Calcutta taken by an unknown photographer about 1865. The Maidan, a large grassy open space, originally cleared for military purposes, allows a clear view of the public buildings and large private houses along Esplanade Row and Chowringhee Road from the River Hooghly. This view looks south east from Government House, across the Maidan towards Chowringhee Road, with the Durrumtollah Tank (water supply) on the left. One of the four ceremonial gateways to Government House, based on designs for Adam's archways at Syon House in Middlesex, is in the foreground on the left.

Source: bl.uk

General Post Office (GPO), Calcutta 1885

Photo taken by an unknown photographer in the 1880s in Calcutta, part of the Bellew Collection of Architectural Views, with a view looking across the tank (reservoir) in Dalhousie Square towards the General Post Office on the north-west corner. As the capital of the British in India in the 19th century, Calcutta was endowed with many buildings projecting appropriate grandeur. Imposing edifices such as the post office, constructed in a neo-classical style and gleaming white with 'chunam', a form of polished stucco made of burnt seashells, helped Calcutta gain the epithet 'City of Palaces'. The city's Tank Square was renamed Dalhousie Square after Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General 1848-56. The new General Post Office was on the site of the New Custom House and the Old Fort. It was built in 1868 by Walter L. B. Granville (1819-74), who acted as consulting architect to the government of India from 1863 to 1868.

Source: bl.uk

St. Paul's Cathedral - Calcutta (Kolkata) - 1865

Photograph of the St. Paul's Cathedral at Calcutta by W. G. Stretton, taken in the 1870s, part of the Dunlop Smith Collection: Sir Charles Aitchison Album of Views in India and Burma. Situated on the South-East corner of the Maidan, the Cathedral was designed in the 'Indo-Gothic' style by Major Forbes of the Engineers, also the architect of the Mint. Completed in 1847 it contains many interesting works of art including murals, frescoes and the stained glass west window designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

Source: bl.uk

Dalhousie Square, Calcutta 1878

This photo of Dalhousie Square from the 'Walter Hawkins Nightingale (PWD) collection: Album of views of Calcutta, was taken by A. De Hone in the 1870s.

Dalhousie Square, named after Lord Dalhousie who appointed Governor-General in 1847, was the main administrative area of Calcutta. The square also housed the headquarters of the East India Company known as the Writer's Building, the Currency Office, and the General Post Office. Dalhousie Square has been renamed BBD Bagh after three Indian nationalists Benoy, Badal, and Dinesh. St. Andrew's Church is visible in the background.

View across Dalhousie Square from the top of the Telegraph Office, looking over the tank (water supply) towards the General Post Office. A portion of Writers' Buildings may be seen on the right, where employees of the East India Company, new to India, lived on their arrival in Calcutta.

Source: bl.uk

Double Entrance from Half Tide Basin to Dock, showing Gates in course of erection of Calcutta Docks - 1886

Photo of the Calcutta (Kolkata) Docks taken in 1886 by an unknown photographer showing the double entrance to the dock and the gates being erected . The Calcutta Port is the only major riverine port in India and constitutes the Calcutta Dock System. The entrance to the dock was to be through a tidal basin about 600 ft by 650 ft, and from the tidal basin to the river were two entrances, one 80ft wide and the other 60 ft. Generally, the gates would open about two hours before high-tide when the water in the river and tidal basin would be at the same level . The lock was used to let cargo boats in and out at all times of the tide.

Source: bl.uk

Dredging operations, showing Hydraulic cranes [and] discharging Barges, Calcutta Docks 1893

Photo of the Calcutta Docks taken in 1893 by an unknown photographer showing dredging operations in progress . The Calcutta Port is the only major riverine port in India and constitutes the Calcutta Dock System. In March 1884, the Secretary of State confirmed Kidderpore as the site for construction of new docks. Dock number one, the outer dock, was primarily intended for vessels bringing imports and loading export cargoes. The temporary railway lines were constructed for the easy removal of 'spoil', or waste earth accumulated during the excavation of the site.

Source: bl.uk

Kidderpore Dock No one - Kolkata - looking towards River, showing temporary railway lines for removal of spoil

Photo of the Calcutta (Kolkata) Docks taken in 1885 by an unknown photographer. The Calcutta Port is the only major riverine port in India and constitutes the Calcutta Dock System. Dock number one shown here, was the outer dock and was primarily intended for vessels bringing imports and loading export cargoes. The temporary railway lines were established for the easy removal of 'spoil', or waste earth accumulated during the excavation of the site.

Source: bl.uk