128-year-old Collectorate building in Cuddalore to be restored

A view of the red brick heritage building at Manjakuppam which previously served as the office of the District Collector in Cuddalore.
| Photo Credit: KUMAR SS

The 128-year-old red brick heritage building, which served as the Collector’s office in Cuddalore previously, will soon be restored. The Building Centre and Conservation Division of the Public Works Department has planned restoration of the heritage structure at a cost of ₹16.2 crore in view of its historical value and present condition.

Spread over 44,960 sq.feet, the 128-year-old red brick structure has suffered damage due to ageing, particularly the Madras tile roofing and the walls. A preliminary assessment revealed that the building’s condition is stable.

According to an official, the construction of the building that began in 1895 was completed in 1897. Initially, the building functioned as the Collector’s office of erstwhile South Arcot district (Cuddalore, Villupuram and Kallakurichi districts) from 1897 to 1993.

After Cuddalore district was bifurcated from South Arcot in 1993, the building served as the office of the Cuddalore District Collector till 2020. The premises now houses the District Treasury Office, the District Forest Office, the Cuddalore Museum, and the District Record Centre.

“The scope of work includes re-plastering of ceiling, wall pillars and arches with lime mortar, replacement of damaged wooden doors with teak wood panelled door shutters, and louvered shutters for windows, and replacement of Madras terrace roof on all floors. The work also includes removal of vegetation growth on the building, besides providing saline treatment for the stone pillars and the brick wall,” the official added.

The PWD will be floating tenders soon for the work and once the order gets issued, the restoration work would begin.

Historical significance

During the heydays of the British, Collectors in the erstwhile South Arcot district struggled to find a suitable location for their offices. In the initial years, they operated from the Garden House, which now serves as the Camp Office of the District Collector.

However, during the war with Tipu Sultan, they moved their office, along with records and the treasury, inside the walls of the Cuddalore Fort for security. Subsequently, the Collector’s office was relocated to the Factory House in Cuddalore Old Town. The Garden House and the Factory House served as Collector’s office alternatively.

According to N. Sethuraman, Associate Professor of History, Periyar Government Arts College, Cuddalore, “The present building was initially occupied by a native cavalry regiment and subsequently became the permanent headquarters of the District Collector. By the 1880s, the barracks could no longer accommodate the expanding needs of the Collector’s office. In 1883, it was decided to gradually modify and expand the buildings based on the availability of funds.”

In 1886, the easternmost room of the south wing was converted into the Collector’s office, followed by the construction of a new treasury room in 1890. Eventually, it was decided to build an entirely new office rather than continue modifying the old structure.

Mr. Sethuraman added, “Work began in 1895 after approval of estimates, with the foundation stone laid in 1896. The grand red brick building facing the Manjakuppam grounds was completed at a cost of ₹1,16,390 in 1897 while the remaining sections of the barracks were converted for various official uses.”

“The old Collectorate building was constructed using bricks and lime mortar in the Roman architectural style. Its distinctive features included high ceilings, arches, vaulted structures, and domes. The building had spacious rooms and halls to accommodate all line departments.”