During the early period of its development the British seized eight villages razed them to ground in June 1857 and a new township came up in 1958 that was referred to as the White Town of the city as it was predominated by the British people and a very few Indians were allowed. Prior to that the massacre' of 600 Meo people in 1857 by the British East India Company's (private) under Bengal Army Colonel Neil, for their role in the independence activities.
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| Memorial Victoria memorial, proclamation of Queen Allahabad. twitter.com |
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| Alfred Park, Victoria memorial.ommons.wikimedia.org |
Above image Victoria memorial in Alfred park , Allahabad. The statue of Victoria was removed after independence. The park was built in 1870 (after taking eight long years) to mark Prince Alfred's - Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Allahabad, Covering 133 acres it still carries the British legacy though it is named after Chandrasekhar Azad, a great freedom fighter. It was designed as a leisure park in Victorian style for the early British settlers in this town. It is close to the Muir college of Allahabad univ (founded in 1872), George town and Civil lines or Cannington .
Cannington / Civil lines:
The development of Cannington—now widely known as Civil Lines—in Allahabad (Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, represents one of the earliest and most ambitious examples of British colonial town planning in northern India. Its origins go back to 1858, a watershed year when the British Crown formally assumed power from the East India Company after the proclamation of Queen Victoria was read out in Allahabad by Lord Charles Canning. As the first Viceroy of India and a central figure during the 1857 uprising, Canning played a major role in reorganizing British authority, and the new European settlement was named Cannington in his honor.
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| Gov.Gen. of India Lord Charles Canning upload. wikimedia.org |
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| British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.indiatoday.in |
Allahabad was made the capital of the North Western Provinces in 1858 and was slowly transformed into a seat of power of the Raj in the initial stages. Thus a new era had began for the city that saw the initial development of a White town . Well planned township on a grid-iron pattern under the supervision of Commissioner Cuthbert Bensley Thornhill, this new settlement was the largest one then and in the 20th century New Delhi superseded it. British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944), was responsible for much of the architectural design and building during much of the period of the Raj till 1940s..
The part that was was transformed into a seat of power in Allahabad by the British in the early 20th century was called 'Cannington', After Viceroy Canning. Historians claim that architect Edwin Lutyens planned the sector of power in Delhi, taking inspiration from the plan of Allahabad.
What is now called Cannington or 'Civil Lines', in Allahabad was the symbol of imperial power in the early stages. No doubt Allahabad was a booming and flourishing city, reminiscent of a European city with broad, tree-lined avenues, nice public buildings, parks and proper British bungalows that showcased the the lavish lifestyle of the Englishmen in Allahabad. The Civil lines also included other Europeans like Germans, Swiss who ran businesses. It was self-contained white town with parks and theater for entertainment and church/ cathedral to meet the spiritual needs. No doubt, the Anglicans made beelines to this upcoming British Indian city.
In the later years what were called grand stone buildings- housing public offices of the Government Press, Board of Revenue, Auditors Office, High Court and Police Headquarters of the Province were built on Queen's Road in British Allahabad.
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| U of Allahabad formerly Muir Central College, .allduniv.ac.in |
Above images: Muir Central College(Univ. of Allahabad, Allahabad, UP) founded in 1872 by Willaim Muir, a Scottish administrator and Lt. Gov. of United Provinces....
Several grand public buildings contributed to the architectural identity of Civil Lines. The Government Press, Board of Revenue, Auditor’s Office, and the majestic Allahabad High Court arose along the important Queen’s Road. These structures, made of stone and brick in Indo-Saracenic and Victorian styles, signified the consolidation of British power. Nearby stood Muir Central College (established in 1872), which later became a nucleus of the renowned Allahabad University. The locality also connected seamlessly with George Town, Cannington’s commercial counterpart.
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| Allahabad High court, UP theprint.in |
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| Allahabad High court,4th oldest in India.upload.wikimedia.org |
Above images: Allahabad High Court, Allahabad: Established on 17 March 1866, making it one of the oldest high courts established in India......
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| Civil lines Allahabad, post colonial period. thehindubusinessline.com |
Above image: A vestige of colonial era, a heritage building partly converted into a Cinema hall.but retaining the old style in the façade
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| All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Allahabad indiatimes.com |
After independence, the grand colonial aura of Cannington gradually softened, but the name Civil Lines endured. Many of the old bungalows, offices, and avenues survive, coexisting with modern administrative blocks, hotels, restaurants, banks, and shopping complexes. Even today, Civil Lines remains one of Prayagraj’s most prestigious localities, preserving elements of its imperial past while functioning as a bustling urban and commercial district. The old grid layout and British-era landmarks continue to offer a glimpse into the city’s rich colonial legacy. Most of the present residents of the Sangam City are unaware that the posh Civil Lines and the Chandrasekhar Azad Park located in the prime part ..of the city were witness to unprecedented massacre during the ..first War of Independence in 1857. Most of the present residents of the Sangam City are unaware that the posh Civil Lines and the Chandrasekhar Azad Park located in the prime part ..of the city were witness to unprecedented massacre during the ..first War of Independence in 1857
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2023/04/cannington-or-civil-lines-of-allahabad.html
https://www.navrangindia.in/2018/03/why-was-james-neills-giant-statue.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Lines,_Prayagraj
 of Allahabad, UP: Carries British legacy, but soiled in native Indian blood){kind=link}