Views of the Red Brick Heritage Building in Manjakuppam, which previously served as the office of an area collector in Cuddalore. |Photo source: Kumar SS
The 128-year-old red brick heritage building, which previously worked as a collector’s office in Cuddalore, will soon be restored. Given its historical value and current condition, the Ministry of Public Works’ Building Centre and Preservation has planned to restore the heritage structure at a price of Rs 162 crore.
The 128-year-old red brick structure has a distribution of more than 44,960 square feet and has suffered damage due to aging, especially the Madras Tile roof and walls. Preliminary assessments show that the condition of the building is stable.
According to an official, construction of the building, which began in 1895, was completed in 1897. Originally, the building was the collector’s office in the Old South Akot region (Cuddalore, Villupuram and Kallakurichi region) from 1897 to 1993 to 1993.
After forked from the Cuddalore district in South Arcot in 1993, the building was the office of collectors in the Kuddalore area until 2020. The site now has the District Finance Office, the Regional Forest Office, the Cuddalore Museum and the Regional Record Center.
“The scope of work includes re-plastering of ceiling, wall pillars and arches with lime molar, replacement of damaged wood 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 float work soon and once the order is issued, the repair work will begin.
Historical significance
In the heyday of Britain, former collectors in the South Alcot region worked hard to find the right place for their offices. In the first few years they operated from the Garden House, which is now a camp office for regional collectors.
However, during the war with Tipu Sultan, they moved to the office inside the walls of Cuddalore Fort, as well as the Ministry of Records and Finance. The collector’s office was subsequently moved to a factory house in the old town of Kudalor. Garden houses and factory houses are also collector’s offices.
According to N. Sethuraman, associate professor of history at the Arts School of the Government of Periar, Cadalor, Periar, Cadalor, “The current building was initially occupied by a local cavalry regiment and then became the permanent headquarters for regional collectors. By the 1880s, the barracks could not meet the expansion needs of 1888. Funding.”
In 1886, the easternmost room at the southern wing was converted into a collector’s office, and a new finance room was subsequently constructed in 1890. Eventually, it decided to build a brand new office instead of continuing to modify the old structure.
Mr Sethuraman added: “With estimated approval, the work began in 1895 and the foundation stone was laid in 1896. Facing the completion of the large red brick building at Manjakuppam Grounds, the cost in 1897 was Rs 1,16,390, while the rest was for a variety of official uses.”
“The old collection building was built using Roman architectural style brick and lime mortar. Its unique features include high ceilings, arches, vaulted structures and domes. The building has spacious rooms and halls that accommodate all line departments.”
publishing – March 28, 2025 at 05:04 am IST
