Fort St. George

Fort St. George is the first ever mansion built by the East India Company in India. The fort today is home to the Secretariat Building and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. St. Mary's Church and the museum are the two prime structures present inside the fort.

Fort St. George is situated on the eatern corner of Chennai city. Built by the British in the year 1640, the fort is surrounded by a moat. The Archeological Survey of India is responsible for the maintainance of Fort St. George. Although known as a military establishment, the fort also houses some non-military buildings.

History of Fort St. George

The history of Fort St. George dates back to 1639 AD when Nayak of Vandavasi sold a piece of land to the British East India Company. This land was used by the British to establish Madrasmen and in 1640 AD the fort was constructed to house the madras Army. It is said that initially the fort was established to serve the purpose of a trading post. In the following years the fort became the first military establishment of the British rulers in India. The British possessed the fort till 1746, however, French got hold of the establishment in the same year. Again, in 1749 East India Company re-possessed the fort by signing a treaty with the French rulers. Today, it is believed that the fort is the place from where the Indian Army started its journey.

Attractions of Fort St. George

Fort St. George is one of the prime Chennai attractions. The two prominent structures established in the fort include Fort St. George Museum and St. Mary's Church. Fort St. George Museum is housed in a building which was constructed in 1795. There are 10 galleries inside the museum which are in the 3 floors of the building.

The entrance of the building is marked by a statue of Lord Cornwallis. Some of the artifacts showcased in the museum are:

arms and ammunitions used during the two World Wars
Ceremonial uniforms of the Under Secratary of Madras Government and bodyguards of Madras Governor
64 medallions given to the soldiers of British Government
Porcelain crockeries used by the East India Company
Coins, stamps and clocks of porcelain in the Indo-French gallery
First marriage register of St. Mary's Church
Sketches of Salt. H Merke, Thomas and William Daniell in the Prints and Document gallery
Silverware of St. Mary's Church and zion church

St. Mary's Church of the fort is adorned with shining teak plaques, glass windows and frescoes on wall. The church is all the more famous for the 1753 marriage ceremony of Lord Clive with Margaret Maskelyne. This one is known to be the oldest church built by the British in India. The three storey Clive house is the place where Lord Clive and his wife had spent their conjugal life. The 150 feet tall flagstaff made of teakwood is yet another important attraction of the fort.

Access to Fort St. George

Access to St. Fort George is quite convenient. Being one of the landmarks of the city, the fort is located on the shore of Bay of Bengal on the Islands Ground . The southern part of Chennai is the place where the fort is located. Various modes of transport like taxis, suburban buses and autorickshaws are available to reach the fort.

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