On my completing 75 walks, my friend Meenakshi Ramesh profiled me for chennai.citizenmatters.in
You can read the interview here
Care to join me for a heritage walk? Register for the next one, to be held on Sunday, August 5. Click here for details
Chennai (Madras) History, Heritage Walks
Holding forth on Heritage
Past Forward's 75th Tour- an Evening in Parry's. Participants atop Dare House. The harbour at the rear.
What a fascinating website. I am an Englishman now living on the Island of St Helena in middle of the South Atlantic. I am also a board member of the St Helena Heritage Society with a background in architecture.
I have long been struck by the relationship between St Helena and Madras through the East India Company. Although the island is tiny and its only town has just one street, it has remained essentially unchanged since the late eighteen century. In this respect I believe it is a microcosm of both London and Madras at that period.
We are faced with protecting this built heritage. We also have a Conservation Area and Listed Buildings together with World Heritage tentative list status. As the Heritage Society we are constantly fighting the powers that be to protect buildings and structures; and the Government has no money for conservation. It’s an uphill struggle.
Jamestown has an East India Company wharf, moat, fort, gardens, warehouse, Grand Parade, St James Church, Courthouse and Main Street. It is possible to see a relationship between Jamestown today and eighteenth century maps of Fort St George. We also effectively remain a colony complete with Governor at the Castle, with flagstaff and Union Jack.
As ever, there are forces wanting the ‘modernise’ everything but Government policy is that built heritage is the basis for a future tourist industry.
I would certainly wish to investigate further any historical connections between our two places.
Best wishes
Andy Pearce