Local bank
Ever since I learnt that the man's first job was with this firm, I couldn't pass this building without thinking about Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse. One reason could be that it was definitely more English looking than its neighbours, being in the Edwardian style rather than the Indo-Saracenic which is more common along Rajaji Salai. The effect is heightened by the gleaming white exteriors, contrasting with the red-brick of its neighbours, especially the Chennai GPO and the State Bank of India buildings. Though the building was completed in 1923, HSBC got its hands on it only in 1959, as part of the takeover of the Mercantile Bank of India, which had its offices here. The site itself has an older provenance, having been the offices of 'The Mail', one of the earliest daily newspapers of Madras!
6 comments:
It's a beautiful building and is reminiscent of our own American-era neo-colonial buildings.
@ Hilda: Haven't been over to see them (especially on your blog) for a long while now :(
Now that you mention it, even I would think about P.G Wodehouse when I pass this building!
@ Sudhamshu: Thanks for stopping by! But how often do you actually pass the building? ;)
It was actually the Imperial Bank Building came into possesion of HSBC when they took over the bank. Its said to be built in 1890's ....
@ Ram: The INTACH guide dates the building to 1923 and though I've also heard of the Imperial Bank version, couldn't find any supporting material. The Imperial Bank went on to become the SBI, so maybe it is the other building....? :)
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