Edward Memorial Hall

Tapan Goswami 71 months ago

Historic place. Maintainence is very poor though renoveted few days ago.

GOUTAM 23 months ago

Edward Memorial Hall is located at Bankura town in Bankura district. Albert Edward was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He was the ruler of the British Empire from the year 1901 to 1910. After his demise, a memorial committee was set up as the Edward Memorial Committee in Calcutta (Kolkata) by the then Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, Lord Ronaldshay. Lord Ronaldshay collected a sum of Rs. 10,000 with which the construction of the Edward Memorial Hall of Bankura began in an Indo-European style of architecture. Most of the decorative and stylistic window arches and cornices are typical Victorian. The main entrance has an open porch which has an Islamic arch. The window and other arches contain keystones in the middle. There were two hexagonal four windowed bastions on both sides of the main entrance. The bastions are connected with the main hall which has two principal supporting arches, above one of which there is a seal of King Edward VII. At present a replica of Ashoka Stambha is at the top of the entrance, previously the Union Jack, the flag of British Empire was used to be hoisted at the top of the entrance. As per the plaque above the entrance, it is stated that the Hall was finally opened to the public on 2nd December 1911 by A. Ahmed, C.S. Magistrate and Collector of Bankura. Cultural functions, discussions and meetings were held at the Hall, thus serving the purposes of the town. The Hall was also utilised as the Famine Relief Centre during the infamous Bankura famine in 1918. The Bankura District Library was also founded in this building before being shifted to its present building. ( Collected from website of West Bengal Heritage Commission
Government of West Bengal)

anik das 71 months ago

One of heritage buildings of Bankura municipality area but right now no maintance take place or not even treated as heritage building.It just seems to look abondened building n most of the time hawkers take rest at this place or use to store their goods in the balcony of this building .