Lot Essay
The New Government House was built for the Governor-General, the Earl of Mornington, later the Marquess of Wellesley and elder brother of the Duke of Wellington.
The Engineer Officer at this time, Captain Charles Wyatt, and the Civil Architect Edward Tiretta were instructed by Wellesley to prepare plans for the New Government House. Wyatt had arrived in Calcutta in 1798 and was dissatisfied with the existing accommodation. Wyatt's designs were chosen over Tiretta's although the latter maintained close involvement with the construction of the building.
Wyatt, son of the famous architect James Wyatt had entered the army in 1780 and had arrived in India in 1782. Following steady promotion he had become Superintendent of Public Works by 1803.
Wyatt's design was heavily influenced by that of Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire. This may be due to the fact that his uncle Samuel had supervised the construction of Kedleston and therefore Wyatt would have had direct access to Robert Adam's designs.
One feature of this building which is particularly interesting is the false and unstructural dome. This was the cause of great mirth from Sir Charles D'Oyly (7th Bt.) who wrote a verse about it in Tom Raw the Griffin.
The importance of this house lies in its influence over the subsequent design of buildings in Calcutta. European city planning was imposed on this Asian city to an extent which had not been witnessed previously. This led to Calcutta adopting the name 'City of Palaces'.
Several such drawings of elevations were prepared in Calcutta to send to London to influence the East India Company's Court of Directors, whom Wellesley had defied in building his palace. See J.P.Losty, Calcutta City of Palaces, London, 1990, pp.71-5
The Engineer Officer at this time, Captain Charles Wyatt, and the Civil Architect Edward Tiretta were instructed by Wellesley to prepare plans for the New Government House. Wyatt had arrived in Calcutta in 1798 and was dissatisfied with the existing accommodation. Wyatt's designs were chosen over Tiretta's although the latter maintained close involvement with the construction of the building.
Wyatt, son of the famous architect James Wyatt had entered the army in 1780 and had arrived in India in 1782. Following steady promotion he had become Superintendent of Public Works by 1803.
Wyatt's design was heavily influenced by that of Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire. This may be due to the fact that his uncle Samuel had supervised the construction of Kedleston and therefore Wyatt would have had direct access to Robert Adam's designs.
One feature of this building which is particularly interesting is the false and unstructural dome. This was the cause of great mirth from Sir Charles D'Oyly (7th Bt.) who wrote a verse about it in Tom Raw the Griffin.
The importance of this house lies in its influence over the subsequent design of buildings in Calcutta. European city planning was imposed on this Asian city to an extent which had not been witnessed previously. This led to Calcutta adopting the name 'City of Palaces'.
Several such drawings of elevations were prepared in Calcutta to send to London to influence the East India Company's Court of Directors, whom Wellesley had defied in building his palace. See J.P.Losty, Calcutta City of Palaces, London, 1990, pp.71-5