Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Who knows this house?
S. MUTHIAH
Is this Pugh’s Gardens?
My picture today was sent in by a reader who wants to know whether I know anything about this derelict house — obviously once a garden house — that’s close to the Taluk Office on Greenway’s Road. All I do know is that a few years ago a pharmaceutical company operated from here, but whether conducting its manufacturing or administrative operations I am not sure. Also, given its proximity to Pugh’s Road, I would guess it probably is what was called Pugh’s Gardens.
Going back to my map of Madras dating to over 70 years ago, I find that the only garden house in this location is Pugh’s Gardens. Across from it, occupying almost a large part of the northern side of Greenway’s Road, were Serle’s Gardens on the west and Bishop’s Gardens (now Vasanth Vihar) on the east.
Searching for the history of Pugh’s Gardens, I discovered that the house was built sometime after 1816, but in 1822 was owned by a James Minchin. In 1837, it appears to have been owned by a ‘Mr. Pugh’. The only Pugh of any affluence around at the time was a Joseph Pugh who had in 1816 been the head of the merchant firm, Pugh & Breithaupt. This later became Pugh & Co and, in 1837, had its offices near Parry’s Corner. Joseph Pugh is listed during this period as being the owner of Bishop’s Gardens, of which I am unable to ferret out any more details. Serle’s Gardens, however, is better documented.
Again a house built after 1816, it was in 1822 the property of Edward Greenway. In 1837, both J. Oliver and N. B. Aucksworth are mentioned as possible owners, but around 1845 it appears to have become the property of William A Serle, the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
To confuse matters a bit, there was from at least 1816 a Pugh’s Gardens in Teynampet (off Cathedral Road), which was long occupied by the Anglican Bishops of Madras. In 1822, it was owned by the firm Lys, Satur & De Monte - that was to become Arbuthnot & Co in time - and in 1837 was reported to belong to a Mr. Poe or a Col. Waugh. Of Pugh there’s nary a trace. But Poe in 1822 owned Sudder Gardens in Luz - a property dating back to at least 1798 and which by 1837 became the Sadr Adalat Court. He must have bought the De Monte property, and Poe’s Gardens in time might have become Pugh’s Gardens through some clerical sleight of hand.
Be that as it all may be, to get back to the beginning, what’s the future of that building where Greenway’s Road starts? If it’s Pugh’s Gardens, it is a building nearly 200 years old. If it’s a building by another name, it’s still a building that’s likely to be well over a hundred years old.
Either way, it’s one of the few garden houses left in the city — and certainly well worth the restoration by anyone interested in the lifestyle heritage of the city.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
