A gate at the Residency

Okay - I could post a picture of an old building at CSULB but that would put it at around 1950 -- not really old.  So I went into the archives and got a picture I took when I was in India in 2008 of the Residency in Lucknow.  

The Residency (it is the British Residency) was built in 1780 and probably completed in 1800.  It was the palace of the Court of Nawab who basically ruled over the city.  In 1857 the Indians fought for independence and shelled the property and reduced the place to ruin.  The commander at the time mocked the group and believed he and his army were safe within the walls.  Some suggested that he move to back into the grounds, but he refused leaving his family in one of the buildings close to the entrance.  As you can imagine, this did not end well.  Most of the buildings on the property show bullet and cannon ball holes in them.

This was a really interesting and beautiful place.  It must have been quite splendid when it was first built.