British Residency, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh India

The British Residency was constructed in 1800 in Lucknow. Currently, this structure is in ruins and the Archaeological Survey of India has declared that it is a protected monument. 

The British Residency of Lucknow is a famous historical landmark of this place. It is now in ruins and has been declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The British Residency was the place that served as a refuge for approximately 3000 British inhabitants during the time of the uprising of 1857. Lucknow was center of all British activities during the siege and the Residency became the monopolistic center of the British for almost 90 days.

The Residency still has within its walls, the graves of around 2000 British soldiers who died in the Revolt of 1857. The people of Lucknow tell intriguing stories of British who fled from their homes to seek shelter in these red buildings. Only a 1000 inhabitant survived this tough ordeal. On November 17th, the British troops led by Sir Colin Campbell defeated the Indian forces. Though they triumphed, it was victory in the true sense.

Today, the British Residency of Lucknow serves as a government office. The Residency also has a museum that is well-maintained by the authorities. One also finds the tombs Sadat Ali Khan, who was the first Nawab of Awadh, Kaisarbagh Palace and an observatory built for Colonel Wilcox, who was a British astronomer.

During the revolt of 1857, almost 3000 British individuals had taken refuge at this place. At this time, all the British activities were controlled from Lucknow. Currently, there are the graves of about two thousand British soldiers who were killed in the revolt. The citizens of Lucknow discuss how the British ran away from their houses and found safety within the British Residency.

This tough test was overcome by only thousand British soldiers. Further, the British troops were triumphant against the Indian forces under Sir Colin Campbell. Presently, this structure is utilized as a government office.

A masterful monument of unmatched splendour, the British Residency in Lucknow was built by the erstwhile Nawab of Awadh, Saadat Ali Khan, in the year 1800 AD. Designed as a cluster of buildings that served as the residence of the British Resident General, who was also the East India Company’s representative in the Nawab’s court, the residency rests on the banks of the magnificent river Gomti, encompassed by fertile flowerbeds and neatly kept lawns.

The building occupies a place of significance in the history of India’s freedom struggle, as it was here, during the freedom struggle of 1857, that mutineers laid siege to around 3000 Englishmen and their families, who had taken refuge here. A cease fire that lasted barely a month ended up claiming countless lives, leading ultimately to the triumph of British soldiers under Sir Colin Campbell. The city of Lucknow was the centre of all British activities during the siege, and the Residency thus became the only centre of the British for a period of three months. Today, the bricks of the residency stand in mute testimony to the violence of the past, with the cemetery near St. Mary church serving as the resting ground of around two thousand dead soldiers who died in the siege.

Unfortunately, a major part of the structure was damaged by cannon fire during the siege, and now stands in ruins. What remains of the residency has been thoughtfully declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India and converted into a museum, with several government offices also functioning from here. The museum is a treat for history lovers, exhibiting a rare collection of 16th century paintings, along with several gold coin specimens. The complex has several other testimonials of note, such as the tomb of Sadat Ali Khan, the first Nawab of Awadh, and his family members, the Tarawali Kothi, an observatory built for Colonel Wilcox, a British astronomer, the Nur Baksh Kothi, and the Kaisarbagh Palace.

There is also a museum in the premises that is managed by the authorities. The tomb of Sadat Ali Khan, the first nawab of Awadh, is also in this monument. One can also see the Kaisarbagh Palace as well as an observatory that had been built for a British astronomer, Colonel Wilcox.