Richard Roskell Bayne: An Impressive British Architect of Colonial India*

Navrang India November 17, 2017

Richard Roskell Bayne (1837–1901), an English architect who practiced in Calcutta and other Indian cities between 1866–90 was an employee of the East Indian Railway. As a railway engineer, he  had built bridges, train stations, and bungalows, but he also had the opportunity to design monumental buildings such as the East India Railway Office and the New Market in Kolkata, the Hussainabad clock tower, Lucknow, UP and Oak Grove School at Mussoorie, Himachal Pradesh. 

Legacy Art Galleries - uvic

Richard Roskell Bayne, born in Warwickshire, England, 7 July 1827, received his early  training in architecture from his father. In 1858, while he was a student at University College in London, Bayne took up a job in the office of the British architect, Charles Barry.  In 1864, he passed the Royal Institute of British Architects Voluntary Architectural Examination, and was also awarded  a  medal. It gave him a chance  to make an extensive sketching tour in Europe in 1864-1865. Having gained considerable experience in designing various structures in Europe, Bayne joined  the East India Railway Company on 20 March 1866 as an engineer and moved  over to Calcutta. His long stay in British India, was productive and he designed many buildings, etc. After retirement from the railway company on 30 April 1890,  he settled down in British Columbia and opened an architectural office in May, 1891. He died in Victoria on 4 December 1901, and is buried in the Ross Bay Cemetery. The following are some of Bayne's wonderful creations that still bear testimony to his unique style and creativity.

Mayo Memorial Hall, Allahabad:

Mayo Memorial Hall, Allahabad  alamy.com
 
Indianetzone.com

Mayo Memorial Hall, Allahabad
govt.uttarpradesh.co

 Above image: Located near colonial building  Thornhill and Mayne Memorial in Allahabad, UP,  the Mayo Memorial Hall is a  beautiful colonial building - a sort of Public Hall meant for public meetings, balls and receptions. It has a majestic 180-ft tall tower that is quite visible all around the site. Designed by the famous architect R. Roskell Bayne, it was built in 1879 and named after Viceroy Lord Mayo (Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo KP GCSI PC ; 
21 February 1822 – 8 February 1872), who was assassinated on  8 February, 1872. The tragedy occurred when he was on an inspection trip to the Convict Settlement at Port Blair in the Andaman Isles, the Bay of Bengal................

New Market, Kolkata: 
 
New Market Kolkata, alamy.com
New Market Kolkata, en.wikipedia. org. 

Above image: New Market is a market in Kolkata  on Lindsay Street at Free School Street (Mirza Ghalib Street). Originally it was an  enclosed market, meaning it was the preserve of the  ''Whites'' and natives were not allowed inside it; the colonists under the English company openly practiced racism.  Today in local parlance, the entire shopping area is often known as "New Market". It was built in Victorian Gothic style  and its architect was  Bayne. It was opened on  first  of January 1874 and it was the first municipal market of Calcutta. It was used to be called Hogg (named after Sir Stewart Hogg, a prominent British) market...............
 
Oak Grove School at Mussoorie:

The Oak Grove School Mussoorie, HM, 
Boarding School India

Above image: Oak Grove School at Jharipani, Mussoorie is a well-known residential and boarding  public school, owned and run by the Northern Railway. It is lon a scenic hill top, covering 256 acres of land owned by the railway. The school was founded on 1 June 1988 during the Raj, mainly catering to the children of Indian railways. Only 25% of the seats were reserved for the outsiders and I presume, the same rule is being followed now by the management. The school has three semi-independent sections: Oak Grove Sr. Boys' School (commenced 1888), Oak Grove Sr. Girls' School (1890s) and Oak Grove Junior School (1912). The buildings were designed by the chief engineer of EIR (East Indian Railway) Mr. Richard Roskell Bayne in his favorite Gothic style of architecture, taking the mountainous terrain into account. The school is being managed by the Northern Railway. .........
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Husainabad Clock Tower,  Lucknow:

Hussainabad clock tower, Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh Tourism

Hussainabad clock tower, Lucknow,
 UP Wikipedia

 Above image: Husainabad Clock Tower,  Lucknow city, Uttar Pradesh, India.  It was  built in 1881 by Nawab Nasir-ud-din Haider to mark the arrival of Sir George Couper, 1st Lieutenant Governor of United Province of Avadh.  The  cost of of construction of this 67 meter (219 feet) tall structure was Rs. 1.75 lakhs. Located near Rumi Dharwaza, it was designed by Bayne using the Big Ben of London as a model. It is one of Baynne's best creations, again showing his abiding interest in Victorian and Gothic style of design in dealing with public buildings. Its huge pendulum has a length of 14 feet.............

https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/case-studies/a4404-thornhill-mayne-memorial-by-richard-roskell-bayne-example-of-scottish-baronial-revival-architectu

https://www.racar-racar.com/uploads/5/7/7/4/57749791/_racar_34_2_06_welchseggerdecaro.pdf

K. N. Jayaraman