UQ684637 OA.Pdf

Pedro Guedes (2017) ‘Ubique: Supporting Britain’s Imperial project through military engineering journals’, (Session Convenor) Alice Santiago Faria: The Built Environment Through The Colonial Press, in: International Congress Politics and Culture in Colonial Periodical Press, promoted by the International Group for Studies of Colonial Periodical Press of the Portuguese Empire (IGSCP-PE), Lisboa, 22nd to 25th May, 2017. Preprint.

CONTENTS:

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Presentation powerpoint slides 10

Conference details 25

ABSTRACT By the late 1820s the esprit de corps of the Royal Engineers was compromised by worldwide dispersal. Many were posted to isolated garrisons on every continent. Among this educated military elite some already corresponded with existing learned societies. The inaugural issue of Papers on Subjects Connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers (PPRE) appeared in 1837, becoming one of the earliest British professional journals to cover tropical buildings in detail. It also published papers on topics of emerging interest such as meteorology, surveying, railways and other important fields of infrastructure as well as civil engineering works, all areas in which Royal Engineers played important roles on civilian secondment at home and abroad. In 1864, Professional Papers on Indian Engineering (PPIE), followed the model, with a stronger emphasis on public buildings and civil engineering works, reviewing projects and designs by officers and engineers working in the Public Works Departments. This paper will review these periodicals and explore their role as effective communicators. It will focus on systems of barracks and hospitals, initially developed in the 1820s for the warm humid tropics in the West Indies. These models influenced those built elsewhere and in India from the 1860s, provoking criticism and debate. The study will compare these periodicals to contemporaneous scientific and professional publications and review the work of major contributors.

Key words:

Military Engineers, Professional Journals, Colonial Engineering, Tropical Building, Indian Infrastructure. Pedro Guedes – The University of Queensland, Australia

Ubique: Supporting Britain’s Imperial project through military engineering journals. Abstract: By the late 1820s the esprit de corps of the Royal Engineers was compromised by worldwide dispersal. Many were posted to isolated garrisons on every continent. Among this educated military elite some already corresponded with existing learned societies. The inaugural issue of Papers on Subjects Connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers (PPRE) appeared in 1837, becoming one of the earliest British professional journals to cover tropical buildings in detail. It also published papers on topics of emerging interest such as meteorology, surveying, railways and other important fields of infrastructure as well as civil engineering works, all areas in which Royal Engineers played important roles on civilian secondment at home and abroad. In 1864, Professional Papers on Indian Engineering (PPIE), followed the model, with a stronger emphasis on public buildings and civil engineering works, reviewing projects and designs by officers and engineers working in the Public Works Departments. This paper will review these periodicals and explore their role as effective communicators. It will focus on systems of barracks and hospitals, initially developed in the 1820s for the warm humid tropics in the West Indies. These models influenced those built elsewhere and in India from the 1860s, provoking criticism and debate. The study will compare these periodicals to contemporaneous scientific and professional publications and review the work of major contributors.

Key words:

Military Engineers, Professional Journals, Colonial Engineering, Tropical Building, Indian Infrastructure.

Within a generation of the loss of its American colonies, Britain found itself adjusting to a new world order with colonial gains across all continents. Held together by the Royal Navy, much consolidation was needed in building and repairing garrisons, developing infrastructure and ensuring some form of administrative overview.

Thinly scattered around Britain’s consolidating empire were members of the Royal Engineers, the ‘Scientific Corps’ of the military, whose wide-ranging duties encompassed everything from fortifications and siege warfare, through surveying, infrastructure and logistics.

Young engineers completed their training under Colonel Charles Pasley who established the School of Military Engineering at Chatham in 1812. In addition to purely military subjects, there were rudimentary courses in architecture and civil engineering with a practical emphasis. On graduation they would be commissioned as Royal Engineer officers in Britain and its Colonies or in the East India Company’s establishments in Bombay, Madras and Bengal. The 1840s saw this professional cadre employed mostly on projects only tangentially military.

1 By this time many had become members of learned societies, keen to participate directly or as corresponding contributors, including Lieutenant William Denison, elected Fellow of the Royal Society who received the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Telford Medal for his original work on testing Canadian woods carried out while he was in North America working on the Rideau Canal.1 Across the world, in India, Colonel John Thomas Smith, Madras Engineers translated Vicat’s work on Limes and Mortars with his own additions based on experiments with hydraulic mortars, chunam and other Indian materials, leading to a Fellowship of the Royal Society and numerous other scientific bodies.2

In 1837, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institute of British Architects began to publish edited Proceedings, soon to be followed by Papers on Subjects Connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, (PPRE) edited by Lieutenant Denison with around 500 copies circulated among subscribers. The first yearly volume was hardly noticed by reviewers, receiving a slightly damning write-up in the Civil Engineer and Architects Journal, itself in its first year of publication.

In the second, 1838 volume, the editorial approach had sharpened and the journal began to carry original articles, particularly on subjects related to distant outposts of the Empire. Among its twenty-six articles, four were dedicated to detailed descriptions of barracks and hospitals for tropical islands of the Caribbean and the South American mainland. The first of these by Captain Smyth describes, timber buildings with verandahs he designed for Demarera with observations about construction, orientation, ventilation and cubical content claiming this could diminish high mortality rates from fevers and other tropical diseases.3 The second article, by Captain Henry Brandreth RE and by far the most influential, is a detailed description of a system of barracks and hospitals combining prefabricated iron components with walls of local masonry. This article, augmented by five detailed and carefully dimensioned illustrations would influence plans and arrangements of barracks and hospitals in warm climates not only in British colonies but elsewhere.4 The remaining two articles describe and illustrate variations of tropical barracks constructed in Jamaica and Demarera.5 These studies with carefully drawn plans, sections, elevations and details, the first such records published anywhere in periodical literature, provided exemplars for emulation.

Later editions of the journal featured similar buildings in locations such as Hong Kong adapted to available skills and materials.6 The descriptions and drawings establishing a type copied loosely in India and even in areas outside the Tropics such as Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.7 So imprinted was the model that it influenced the rituals of military life, with the verandah becoming part of parade and inspection routines. At the Royal Marine barracks in Woolwich designed by Denison in 1846, just before he set off as Governor to Van Dieman’s Land, verandahs were used for just this purpose.8

Design at the Chatham school was based upon a utilitarian and pragmatic course equipping young engineers with a clear, limited and abridged classical vocabulary with a strong emphasis on arched brickwork between piers.9 An early example of this can be seen in a small hospital (1829) on the Island of Ascension by Brandreth, and published in PPRE in 1840.10 This single storey structure with verandahs of piers and arches was an early published version of the style of building that became pervasive in India where East India Company Engineers built public buildings in this reductive and later much derided style.

2 Training at Chatham followed by a posting to distant garrisons stimulated resourcefulness and enabled Engineer officers to design complex buildings based upon scientific reasoning. Such is the case with Joshua Jebb’s prison designs which with their radiating wings of cells in blocks with access galleries on either side of a tall atrium became the standard for correctional facilities throughout the Empire. Jebb’s official Parliamentary report on Pentonville Prison was published in1844, followed shortly after by an extended article in PPRE with his designs for tropical prisons showing cells protected from the sun by verandahs.11

Detailed, illustrated reports on indigenous and vernacular building techniques in India, Malta, Gibraltar and other colonial locations were published as curiosities or as examples to be replicated elsewhere.12

Following Denison’s pioneering lead on Canadian woods, careful testing of timbers from colonial outposts in Southern Africa, the Caribbean and Western Australia formed the subject of numerous studies, building knowledge in this area.13 Additionally the performance of materials in hot climates, their durability and mitigation of heat formed the focus of other contributions.14 Exposure to hurricanes and earthquakes in some colonies, called for special attention.15 Lt. Colonel Reid, while restoring and rebuilding structures on Barbados after the 1831`hurricane developed recommendations based upon his diagnosis of the detailed causes of building failures.16 Meticulous studies of productivity in building in various locations ranging from Bermuda to Western Australia compared convict with free labour.17

In the first fifty-five years of publication, PPRE had over two hundred articles on colonial themes, probably more than any scientific journal published in Europe before the 1890s. They covered the built environment, climate, infrastructure, building materials and vernacular techniques in addition to purely military subjects involving tactics and defenses in colonial wars.

Periodicals in the British Indian settlements of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay published original articles on built environment themes from early in the 19th century. Among these were reports on indigenous well-sinking techniques, employed in foundations of heavy masonry structures on alluvial soils.18 A Captain Cautley adopted these techniques in the foundations of structures on the Doab Canal, publishing his work in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1839. Inaugurated nearly fifty years earlier as Asiatick Researches … , this journal published wide- ranging scientific reporting by a small educated elite of Calcutta, Madras & Bombay.19 Along with the Madras Journal of Literature and Science, these journals and others in Britain hosted articles by EIC engineers on engineering subjects as well as archaeology, geology, philology, palaeontology and other fields of enquiry.20 Cautley’s article was reproduced verbatim nearly ten years later, in PPRE and was influential in the development of large-scale civil engineering foundations.21

In 1839, the Madras journal, Reports, Correspondence and original papers … edited by Captain John T Smith issued its first volume. Modeled on PPRE, its ambitions were high, with articles on Indian topics with quality illustrations but its life was brief with only three volumes in ten years.22

After crushing the Indian Rebellion of 1857-8, Britain abolished the East India Company, imposing direct rule from Westminster and vastly increasing the number of British Troops that were housed in rapidly built barracks often on badly chosen sites, resulting in high mortality rates. Florence Nightingale and her nephew, Captain Douglas Galton RE, carried out exhaustive analysis of data on troop accommodation, with their findings published in 1864 as

3 official recommendations. Unsurprisingly, their designs were highly influenced by the West Indian Barracks of the 1820s, published in PPRE in 1838.23

Civil duties of military engineers in India, already extensive under the EIC, expanded rapidly under the Public Works Department (PWD) when direct rule from London was imposed after the suppression of the ‘Sepoy Rebellion’ in 1858.24 Very large irrigation canal projects and road and railway networks as well as port facilities requiring land reclamation begun before 1858 were expanded and new ones initiated. Water supply and drainage systems were introduced in large cities, with new government buildings required throughout the subcontinent. Augmenting the small cadre of engineering alumni from the School of Military Engineering at Chatham became a high priority. New colleges were created in India and existing ones expanded among which was Thomason College, established in the late 1840s at Roorkee to train Indian Sub-Assistant Executive Engineers.25 The College was intended for Indian students, but Europeans were admitted if they could demonstrate proficiency in local languages. Roorkee had a dynamic publication programme with its own printing presses producing lithographed and letterpress course notes and textbooks, many of which were translations of technical works into ‘Oordoo’ and other vernacular languages. In 1863, Major John Julius Medley RE became the Principal and set about making it a prominent educational establishment taking advantage of its in-house publishing facilities. In addition to engineering textbooks, Medley inaugurated the Professional Papers on Indian Engineering, (PPIE) modeling it on the PPRE, with a strong focus on articles relevant to the Indian context.26

As editor, Medley, wrote many of these himself, particularly on architecture and building. He questioned the wisdom of imposing similar standards for barracks in warm humid tropical islands in the Caribbean to those different climatic conditions in semi-arid plains of the Indian hinterland with hot-dry summers and bitterly cold winters arguing for regional sensitivities, supporting his article with a schematic design.27 Medley included utilitarian barracks in his journal, mostly at variance with the ‘recommended’ designs of Nightingale and Galton’s Sanitary Commission.

In the early 1860s, the pragmatic style, adopted almost universally by military engineers trained at Chatham, and exemplified by the hospital designed for the Island of Ascension was much criticized for becoming a reflex formula for all buildings in India. In Medley’s own words:

…we certainly surpassed ourselves in India, and succeeded in inventing a style of building, (irreverently known as the Military Board style,) which for ugliness beat everything that ever was constructed by man. Who does not know the sense of desolation that comes over one at first sight of some of our Indian cantonments; the straight and dusty roads, the rows of glaring white rectangular barracks, the barn-like church, differing only from a barrack in the presence of a square tower and classical (!) portico…28 India was no longer the business of a trading company, its status as Britain’s prized Imperial possession had to be asserted, not only with great works of public utility, but with buildings whose architecture would rise to the occasion.

The two military engineering journals (PPRE & PPIE) were studiedly ‘scientific’ in their presentations. Nearly all published articles were matter-of-fact, empirical and impersonal in spite of the fact that many of the contributors wrote elsewhere in other styles, particularly when dealing with military exploits. Medley, the editor had several voices beyond the journal, ranging from his personal vigorous and adventurous recollections of siege warfare during the ‘Mutiny’ to transcripts of chatty lectures given in Britain in his efforts to gain recruits of caliber for the Indian

4 Service.29 Aesthetics had been almost entirely eschewed by PPRE, apart from a key article published in 1863 by the highly respected architectural historian James Fergusson ‘On the Principles of Design in Architecture’.30 The date is significant because, at the time, the growing number of civilian architectural and engineering journals were beginning to criticize the work of military engineers particularly in India, questioning their high status and remuneration when compared to civilian civil engineers who had sought to further their professional careers in India.31

Medley took up the challenge of featuring what he considered exemplary works of public architecture in PPIE and the policy was continued after he retired in 1870. In the first 1863-4 volume, he published several buildings with architectural pretentions in the then fashionable Gothic style. Captain St Clair Wilkinson RE’s winning competition entry for the European Hospital in Bombay was a carefully Gothic composition but its planning was entirely formulaic, following the template of the West Indian barracks published in 1838.32 Generous verandahs surrounding rooms in deep shade had clearly become the norm for all buildings in warm climates. Nearly every building in later volumes of PPIE, apart from churches, followed this form of planning irrespective of their style.33 Medley’s journal was well received in London, receiving an exceptionally favourable and lengthy review in George Godwin’s the Builder in 1865.34

Styles varied. Classical compositions with different degrees of ornamentation were preferred in Calcutta and North India.35 Bombay was very much inclined to favour Gothic supported its Governor Sir Bartle Frere,36 while Madras became a centre for experimentation with the Indo- Saracenic style inaugurated by Robert Fellows Chisholm and strongly supported by Lord Napier.37 In the so-called ‘native states’ such as Jaipur, distinguished officers of the caliber of Major Swinton Jacob RE, designed very accomplished buildings respecting Indian crafts and ornamental systems.38 He also published articles in PPIE on water supply of Jaipur distributed by wind power.39 In spite of all these laudable efforts, Major Charles Mant RE was among the very few Royal Engineers to receive unreserved praise for his efforts as an architect in the Transactions of the Royal Institute of British Architects.40

Mant’s designs for the Surat High School was published in PPIE in 1868, with the work of many other engineer architects and Indian graduates of Roorkee and other colleges demonstrated their talents, their work also featured prominently.41

Captain St Clair Wilkinson was awarded ‘First in Merit’ for his competition entry for the Bombay General Hospital, but the Committee ‘…stated their opinion that none of the designs submitted complied fully with the conditions’.42 It went instead to T Roger Smith, who in 1868, delivered a paper at the RIBA ‘On buildings for European occupation in tropical climates, especially India.’43 It was the first public discussion on the subject among British architects, few of whom had turned their mind to designing for warm climates. Smith’s focus on the verandah as the major architectural element to mitigate the effects of unbearable heat and glare ensured its entry into the vocabulary of building for the tropics. However, it was through publications in early journals concerning the work of engineers that this particular building vocabulary was promoted and developed.

Nearly every design published in PPIE as well as Indian and colonial public buildings featured in the growing number of British architectural and engineering periodicals were planned with verandahs. French colonial outposts in Algeria, Indo-China, Madagascar and elsewhere in Africa also had buildings with verandahs as did their counterparts in German, Belgian, Spanish

5 and Portuguese colonies, testaments to the influence of mid-nineteenth century military periodicals in helping to promote an approach to building in the tropics.

1 Lieutenant William Denison R E ‘A Series of Experiments on different kinds Of American Timber’ Transactions of the Institution of Civil Engineers Volume 2 Issue 1, 1838, pp. 15-32

2 Captain J. T. Smith, Madras Engineers, F.R.S. (Trans), A Practical And Scientific Treatise On Calcareous Mortars And Cements, Artificial And Natural …By L J Vicat … With the addition of explanatory notes, embracing remarks upon the results of various new experiments…London: John Weale, 1837

3 Captain Smyth RE, ‘On the Construction of Barracks for Tropical Climates’, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 2, 1838, pp. 233-238

4 Captain H. Brandreth RE ‘Memorandum relative to a System of Barracks for the West Indies, recommended by Colonel Sir C.F. Smith, C.B., R.E., and approved by the Master-General and Board of Ordnance’. Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 2, 1838, pp. 239-246. See Also: Pedro Guedes, ‘The iron duke’s West Indian barracks’. In: Macarthur et al. (editors) Additions to architectural history: 19th annual conference of SAHANZ, 2002, pp.72 & 94 (abstract) – full paper: Conference Proceedings CD

5 Lieut William Denison R E, Description of Barracks at Lucea, in Jamaica, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 2, 1838 p. 247

6 Major Aldrich, R.E, “Description of the Mat Covering Sheds used at Hong-Kong in the erection of the Ordnance Buildings, and of the mode adopted by the Chinese in transporting and raising heavy Weights for these Buildings’. Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 10, 1848, pp. 153-155

7 N K Boyd & J Rice. ‘Analysing nineteenth century military building typologies: an Australian perspective.’ In: C A Brebbia & C Clark, Defence Sites II: Heritage & Future, Southampton: WIT Press, 2014, pp. 87-98.

8 Captain Sir William Denison, Royal Engineers, ‘Observations on Barracks, and on the Moral Conditions of the Soldier’. Corps Papers and Memoirs on Military Subjects: Compiled from contributions of the officers of the Royal Engineers and the East India Company Engineers, vol. 1 – part 3, 1849-50, pp. 247-261 and 6 plates.

9 Lieut. Col. Charles William Pasley, Outline of a Course of Practical Architecture compiled for the use of Junior Officers of Royal Engineers. Chatham: Royal Engineer Establishment, 1826 – originaly lithographed and circulated privately, reprinted 1862

10 Captain H. R. Brandreth, Royal Engineers, ‘Notes on the Island of Ascension’, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol.4, 1840, pp. 116-130

11 Major J. Jebb R.E., Report of The Surveyor-General of Prisons on the Construction, Ventilation Details of Pentonville Prison, Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty, London: William Clowes, 1844 Major Jebb, R.E. ‘On the Construction and Ventilation of Prisons’, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol.7, 1845, pp. 10-32

12 Major Harry D. Jones, Royal Engineers, ‘Memoranda and Details of the Mode of Building Houses, &c. in the Island of Malta. Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 5, 1842, pp.196-205 Captain George Underwood, E. I. Company's Engineer, ‘Memorandum regarding Syrian or Cylinder Roofs’. Corps Papers and Memoirs on Military Subjects: Compiled from contributions of the officers of the Royal Engineers and the East India Company Engineers, vol. 1, 1848, pp. 34-39 Henrj C. Jago, Clerk of Works, R.E.D, ‘Notes upon the Construction of Buildings at Gibraltar with Tapia; compiled by Henrj C. Jago, Clerk of Works, R.E.D.; forwarded by Col. Stehelin, C.R.E., Gibraltar’, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers and East Indian Engineers, vol. 10 NS, 1861, pp. 25-27

13 Lieutenant Nelson, R.E., the late Captain Young R.E., Sir Robert Seppings, Captain Smyth, R.E., and Lieutenant Denison R.E.,‘Remarks and Experiments on various Woods, both Foreign and Domestic,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 5, 1842, pp. 90-139 Colonel Henderson, Captain Wray, Captain Grain, and Captain Du Cane, R.E. ‘Notes on the Jarrah, of Western Australia,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, Vol. 13 NS, 1864, pp. 67-71Captain Oldershaw, Royal Engineers, ‘Description of the one-arch Wooden Bridge, of 205 feet span, at Paradenia, with an account of the execution of the work and the means employed in throwing it across the river Mahavillaganga, in the island of Ceylon,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 3, 1839, pp. 154-157 Lieutenant Denison, Royal Engineers, ‘Description of a Series of Bridges erected across the river Ottawa, connecting the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and especially of a wooden arch of 212 feet span which crossed the main branch of the river.’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 3, 1839, pp. 158-163

14 Colonel Fanshawe, R.E., ‘Report on the Effect of Climate on Yorkshire Paving,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 3, 1839, pp. 180-181

Lieutenant Colonel Fife, R.E The Thickness and Material of Walls and Roofs of Buildings considered in respect of Coolness in Tropical Climates, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, Vol. 13 NS, 1864, pp. 24-26

15 Colonel R. Jones R.E., ‘Memorandum transmitted by Colonel R. Jones, Commanding Royal Engineer, Malta by desire of the Inspector-General of Fortifications, November,1849, on Precautions adopted in New Buildings in Sicily, with a view to neutralize the Effects of Shocks of Earthquakes. Collected from the best information he could obtain from some intelligent and experienced Sicilians then at Malta.’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers and East Indian Engineers, vol. 1 NS, 1851, pp. 12-13 Lieutenant T. Fraser R.E. ‘How Earthquakes can be Observed and Registered’, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, vol. 18, 1870, pp. 107-110

16 Lieut. Col. William Reid. ‘On Hurricanes’, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol.2, 1838vol. 2, 1838, pp. 137-208 Samuel B. Howlett, Esq., Chief Draughtsman, Ordnance, ‘Description of a Barometer that requires no corrections either for Zero or for Temperature,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 3, 1839, pp. 164- 165 Lieut. Colonel Alexander R.E., BERMUDA. Remarks Explanatory of the Gale that occurred in the Atlantic between the 22nd of September and the 3ed of October 1852, to accompany the Meteorological Record for the Month of September at Bermuda,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers and East Indian Engineers, vol. 3 NS, 1853, pp. 196-202

17 Lieut. R.J. Nelson, R.E. ‘Engineer Details. By Lieutenant Nelson, Royal Engineers. For the most part collected at Bermuda between April, 1829, and May, 1833. Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 4, 1840, pp. 136-197 Capt. G. S. Tilly R.E., Notes on Different Kinds of Labour, Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, vol. 8 NS, 1859, pp. 96-97 Capt H. Wray R.E. ‘Remarks on Military and Convict Labour in Western Australia,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, vol. 8 NS, 1859, pp. 116-122 Capt. Percy Smith, R.E. Notes on Military and Convict Labour,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, vol. 16 NS, 1868, p. 79-109 Captain E. F. Du Cane R.E., ‘A Comparison between Free and Convict Labour, by Captain Harvey, late of the Austrian Service, and Deputy Governor of Portsmouth Prison. Communicated by Captain E. F. Du Cane’, ’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, vol. 16 NS, 1868, pp. 110-115 Captain H. A. Gun R.E., ‘On Pioneer Labour,’ Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Contributed by Officers of the Royal Engineers, vol.21 NS, 1873, pp. 83-89

18 The technique was much admired by British military engineers. It was used in the foundations of St. Andrews Church, Egmore, Madras, built by Major Thomas de Havilland in 1821. Here the foundations consisted of 150 closely spaced wells. In his short: An Account of Saint Andrew’s Church, Madras,1821, de Havilland explained: All edifices of importance along the Coromandel Coast where the soil of the nature described prevails, are founded in this manner; and generally, wherever it can be conveniently be effected, and where welling is neglected, the buildings very soon crack into fissures in every direction … Almost the whole of Fort St George is seated on wells in this manner. An earlier printed description of the technique: Legoux de Flaix Essai historique geographique et politique sur l'Indoustan, Paris: Pougin, 1807, vol. I, pp. 424-442, Atlas, planche X.

19 Captain Coutley, superintendent of the Doab Canal, ‘On the use of wells & co., in foundations, as practiced by the natives of the northern Doab,’ The Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. 8 NS, 1839, pp. 327-340.

20 Lieutenant Bradock, ‘On the solidifying, or induration of Chunam’, The Madras Journal of Literature and Science… vol. 3, 1836, pp. 97-100 M, ‘On Syrian Roofs’, The Madras Journal of Literature and Science… vol. 3, 1836, pp. 115-117 B, ‘On the Induration of Mortar,’ The Madras Journal of Literature and Science… vol. 5, 1837, pp. 36-39 Captain George Underwood, Madras Engineers, ‘Memorandum regarding Syrian or Cylindrical Roofs,’ The Madras Journal of Literature and Science… vol. 7, 1837, pp. 381-387 Captain Goodwyn Engineers, ‘Memoir on the application of Asphaltic Mastic, to Flooring, Roofing, and Hydraulic works in India – with a Plate,’ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. 7 NS, 1843, pp. 534-540

21 Captain Cautley, Superintendent of the Doab Canal, ‘On the Use of Wells, & co., in Foundations; as practiced by the natives of the Northern Doab,’ First Number of the Corps Papers and Memoirs on Military Subjects Compiled from the Contributions of the Officers of the Royal and East India Company of Engineers, vol. 1, 1848, pp. 50-60

22 Reports Correspondence and Original Papers on Various Professional Subjects Connected with the Duties of the Corps of Engineers Madras Presidency… Madras 1839

23 Florence Nightingale, ‘Observations by Miss Nightingale…’, in: Royal Commission … Army in India, Vol. 1. Report of the Commissioners…London: HMSO, 1863 pp. 347- 462. Barrack and Hospital Improvement Commission. Suggestions in regard to Sanitary Works Required for Improving Indian Stations. London: HMSO, 1864.

Captain H. Brandreth RE ‘Memorandum relative to a System of Barracks for the West Indies, recommended by Colonel Sir C.F. Smith, C.B., R.E., and approved by the Master-General and Board of Ordnance’. Papers on subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 2, 1838, pp. 239-246

24 Under Lord Dalhousie, Governor General, responsibility for Civil Works was removed from the Military Boards and placed under direct control of the Government through a newly constitute d Secretariat in 1854, three years before the Rebellion. See: J G Medley, ‘The Public Works Department’, Professional Papers on Indian Engineering, vol. 3, 1866, pp. 109-114.

25 Lieut. Robert Maclagan, Principal C.E. College, Account of Roorkee College, Established for the instruction of Civil Engineers, with a scheme for its enlargement. Printed by Order of the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the North Western Provinces. Agra: Secundra Orphans Press, 1851

26 Professional Papers on Indian Engineering, vol. 1, 1863-64. Edited by Major J.G. Medley, R.E., A.I.C.E., Principal, Thomason College, Roorkee. Roorkee: Published at the Thomason College Press.

27 Major J.G. Medley, ‘Indian Barracks’, Professional Papers on Indian Engineering, vol. 2, 1865, pp. 107-112 J. G. Medley, ‘Some Remarks on the Late Sanitary Commission’, PPIE, vol. 1, pp. 101-107. F. S. Taylor, R.E. ‘European Infantry Barracks, Nowshera, Punjab: Erected in 1853, by Lieut, (now Captain) F.S. Taylor, R.E.’ PPRE, vol. 1, 1863-4, pp. 130-133 and plate. See also: Major F. R. de Bude R.A., ‘Ventilation of Indian Barracks and Jails: On the Possibility of Ventillating and Cooling Barracks and Jails, by means easily available in India and at small expense,’ Professional Papers on Indian Engineering, vol. 2, 1865, pp. 174-177. J. G. Medley, ‘Ventilation and Cooling’, PPIE, vol. 3, 1866, pp. 213-217.

28 The Editor (J.G. Medley), ‘Anglo Indian Architecture,’ Professional Papers on Indian Engineering, vol. 1, 1863-64, pp. 201- 206 (201) . 29 Julius George Medley, Captain Bengal Engineers and Garrison Engineer at Lucknow, A Year’s Campaigning in India, from March 1857 to March 1858, London: Thacker & Co, 1858 Julius George Medley, Lieutenant Colonel, R.E., India And Indian Engineering: Three Lectures delivered at the Royal Engineer Institute, Chatham in July 1872, London: E & F. N. Spon, 1873

30 James Fergusson, ‘The Principles of Design in Architecture.’ Papers on Subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, vol. 12 NS, 1863, pp. 104-120

31 Throughout the 1860s, there were numerous articles and letters in Journals such as The Builder. One example, backed up with figures of earning differentials: One of the victims, ‘Civil Engineering in India’, The Builder, 1864, pp. 293-294.

32 ‘European General Hospital, Bombay. Designed by Captain H. St. Clair Wilkins, R.E.’ Professional Papers on Indian Engineering, vol. 1, 1863-64, pp. 406-410.

33 Every volume of PPRIE carried examples of buildings designed mostly by military and civil engineers with very prominent verandahs in their planning. The published drawings often included plans and other orthogonal drawings as well as perspectives and sometimes actual photographic prints.

34 Editorial (George Godwin, editor), ‘Architecture and Engineering in India’ The Builder, vol. 23, 1865, pp. 441-442.

35 ‘Artillery Mess-House Meerut’, PPIE, vol. 4, 1867, p. 1 & Plates. This fine building was erected from the designs of the late Captain Atkinson, R.E. (the architect also of the Umballa Church), by J. L. Parker, Esquire, C.E., and was unfinished when the Mutiny broke out in 1857. ‘Mayo Hospital Lahore, communicated by W Purdoe CE…, Rai Kunhya Lal – Assoc Inst CE Exec engineer,’ PPIE, vol. 1, NS, pp. 521-528 & 2 plates. Its style of architecture is ‘Italian’ and in designing it, the general principle of hospital accommodation for natives, contained in Government of India’s Circular, No. 19, of 5th March, 1866, has been adhered to… ‘Civil Buildings-Amritsar – Design & commenced by J Gordon, completed by Rai Kunhya Lal – Executive engineer, Lahore Division, Note by W. Purdon Esq., C.E., Supdg. Engineer, 3rd Circle, Punjab.’ PPIE, vol. 4, NS, 1875, pp. 311-314 – 3 plates The style of architecture appear to me to be scarcely well suited to this climate, as it affords so little shade, while the solid character of the verandahs tends rather to retain the heat, nor can the cornices and ornamental portions of this style of architecture be satisfactorily carried out in brick masonry.

36 Designs For Bombay Police Courts - By Captain Fuller, R.E., PPRE, vol. 2, 1865, pp. 324-326 – plus plates It is submitted that the ornateness or otherwise of a building should depend upon its locality, and not merely on the use for which it may be intended. ‘Public Works Offices, Bombay,’ Builder, 1874, pp. 437-439. ‘New Secretariat, Bombay,’ Builder, 1875, pp. 1039-1041. ‘The Hall of the University of Bombay,’ Builder, 1876, pp. 10, 13, 15. See also: Gavin Stamp, ‘British Architecture in India 1857 – 1947’, Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, (JRSA) Vol. 129,1981, pp. 357-379.

37 Lord Napier’s observations about architectural style: Lord Napier, ‘Modern Architecture in India’, Builder, 1870, pp. 680-682 Lord Napier, ‘Architecture for India,’ Builder, 1870, pp. 722-723. ‘The Revenue Board Building in Madras’, Builder, 1870, pp. 1046-1047. The Government has endeavoured, with the advice of an accomplished architect, to exhibit in the improvements at the Revenue Board an example of the adoption of the Mussulman style to contemporaneous use. Mr. Chisholm would be the first to disclaim and condemn the material which has been forced upon him by necessities to which we are still subjected, but his design will be a practical demonstration of the views which I have here advocate. He has paid the first tribute to the genius of the past; he has set the first example of a revival in native art which I hope will not remain unappreciated and unfruitful. The above article appeared with the illustration reproduced photographically in: ‘The Revenue Board Buildings in Madras’, PPIE, vol. 1, NS, 1872, pp. 1-2

38 N. Kabir, N. Naz & A. Qayyun, ‘The contribution of British Engineer Architect Colonel Samuel Swinton Jacob, (1867-1902): Proponent of European Indo Islamic Architecture in Colonial India’ Pakistan Journal of Science, vol. 66, 2014, pp. 282-290

39 Lietenant S S Jacob, Executive Engineer, Jeypor, ‘Trellis work in Chunam’, PPIE, vol. 5, 1868, pp. 303-304. Captain S S Jacob, ‘A Design for the New Canning College, Lucknow,’ PPIE, vol. 6-NS, 1877, pp. 113-120 Captain S S Jacob, ‘Jeypor Church, Rajpootana,’ PPIE, vol. 7-NS, 1878, pp. 211-216 Major S S Jacob, ‘Water supply for the city of Jeypor’, PPIE, vol. 8-NS, 1879, pp. 215-232

40 R Phene Spiers, Fellow ‘The Late Major Mant R E Fellow,’ RIBA Transactions, 1881-82, p. 104, Words of Sir Richard Temple Bart. GCSI

41 Lieutenant C Mant RE, ‘The Surat High School,’ PPIE, vol. 5, 1868, pp. 315-316

42 ‘European General Hospital, Bombay: Designed by Captain H. St. Clair Wilkinson, R.E.’ PPIE, vol. 1, 1863-64, pp. 406-410, 2 plates and a photograph.

43 T Roger Smith, ‘On building for European occupation in Tropical Climates, especially India,’ RIBA Transactions, 1867-68, pp. 197-208. See also: T Roger Smith, ‘Architectural Art in India,’ JRSA, 1873, p. 285. ‘The European General Hospital, Bombay,’ The Builder, vol. 22, 1864, pp. 809-811.

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CFP: THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE COLONIAL PRESS (LISBON, 22-25 MAY 17) Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Universidade dos Açores, Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal Abstracts due: 12/04/2016 Conference date: 05/22/2017

One of the most visible faces of colonial power and one of the most permanent were the changes in the built environment: the construction of buildings, ports, roads, railways or other infrastructures or the changes in the landscape through forestation, changes in agriculture, etc. These are just some of the examples.

This panel aims to explore the role and assert the importance of the colonial periodical press – newspapers and periodicals (general or scientiPc), published in the colonial territories and in the metropoles – in the study of the built environment by exploring themes such as the reception, circulation of models, the discussion and understanding by the public, use by the political power, among others. Some of this themes can be discussed by the following questions, to which they are not limited to: How was the built environment used by the press, in the colonial territories and in the metropoles, as a mean of propaganda (by the governments or the oppositions)? Were transcolonial debates or circulations of knowledge (by the circulation of models, etc.) made only by scientiPc press or also by general press? Who were the predominant actors and what were the main discourses? How can reception, and the change of reception over the course of time, be studied trough colonial periodical press? How are these changes made in the colonial period,

27 perceptible, debated, etc. in the post-colonial period through the press?