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| Brett,House (castle) Hosur, TN thehindu.com |
Above image: Brett’s Folly: Salem District Collector Brett ICS (1855-56) was keen and had the plan for the castle drawn in England. Apart, he raised even new hamlets around this building for chunnambu (lime) suppliers and masons. Built in 1861 the castle was modelled on Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire.But the Collector and his wife could not even set foot in the castle...Reason: The district headquarters was shifted to Salem.
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| Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire, Midland Masonry |
Brett's Castle, also known as Kenilworth Fort, near Hosur in Tamil Nadu, has indeed become severely damaged beyond redemption and is now largely a "heap of rubble." The reasons for its dilapidated state are a combination of abandonment, natural decay, and lack of conservation efforts.
"Brett's Folly" and Abandonment: The castle was built between 1857 and 1861 by William Brett, the Collector of Salem, as a grand residence for his fiancée, modeled after Kenilworth Castle in England. However, shortly after its completion, the district headquarters was shifted from Hosur to Salem. As a result, Brett and his wife never resided in the castle. This effectively led to its initial abandonment. The castle was even nicknamed "Brett's Folly" by other British officials due to the enormous expense and its eventual disuse by its intended occupants.
Change of Use and Eventual Disuse: After Brett's departure, the castle briefly served as the residence and office of the Sub-Collector of Hosur. However, in 1875, the Sub-Collector's office also moved to a new administrative building, and the castle fell completely into disuse.
Natural Decay and Neglect: Over the decades, with no proper maintenance or occupation, the structure was left exposed to the elements. Natural processes like weathering, erosion, and the unchecked growth of vegetation (particularly trees with strong roots) would have significantly weakened its structure. Tree roots are known to cause severe damage to old buildings by penetrating walls and foundations.
Lack of Conservation Efforts: Despite its historical and architectural significance as a unique example of an English medieval castle in India, there has been a notable lack of serious restoration or conservation efforts. While there have been reports of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) having plans for its protection, as of recently, the monument remains neglected.
In essence, the combination of its initial abandonment, subsequent disuse, and the absence of ongoing maintenance and conservation initiatives led to Brett's Castle deteriorating into its current state of ruin. What was once a stately, alien-looking structure with tall broad walls and steep spires is now barely visible, hidden beneath thorny undergrowth, a poignant reminder of a unique colonial ambition that never came to fruition.
Now the castle has turned in to mounds of dirt and debris and historians regret that this colonial structure is lost for ever primarily due to official negligence of the state and the department in charge of old heritage and monuments. The ASI has to be blamed squarely for the loss of this rare European style building near Hosur city near Tamil Nadu and Karnataka border.
https://www.navrangindia.in/2024/10/bretts-castle-near-hosur-tamil-nadu.html
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