Metcalfe House

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Coordinates: 28°31′21″N 77°11′13″E / 28.52244°N 77.18695°E / 28.52244; 77.18695
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Metcalfe House
Dilkhusha
Qutb Complex (Mehrauli Archaeological Park)
Coordinates28°31′21″N 77°11′13″E / 28.52244°N 77.18695°E / 28.52244; 77.18695
Current tenantsArchaeological Survey of India
Destroyed1857
ClientSir Thomas Metcalfe
LandlordGovernment of India
Technical details
Structural systemstones and brick
Design and construction
Architect(s)Sir Thomas Metcalfe

Metcalfe House is the name given to two residential houses built in the 19th century in

Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.[1][2][3]

The first house near the Civil Lines, called the 'town house', was built in 1835 in colonial style, near the present day Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT). He resided there till his death in 1853. It was badly damaged during the

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). It is out of limits for visitors and photography.[2][3][5]

The second Metcalfe House, known as 'the retreat' or 'Dilkhusha', was also built by Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe as a country house in

Qutub Minar with its surrounding structures. An inscription at site (photo of plaque in the gallery) testifies that Metcalfe rented out this house to honeymooning couples.[1][3][6][7]

The town house

The Metcalfe Town House in 1858, by Felice Beato

Metcalfe built his town house, close to the

cypress tree lined pathways, flowerbeds, orange groves, roads and a swimming pool. The doors of the regal building were festooned with mistletoe and holly.[1][6][8][9]

Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi
compiled and presented by Metcalfe to his daughter Emily

The wide verandah, encircling the main building on all sides, was supported on impressive stone columns. Inventive underground rooms called the tykhanas were used for cool comforts during the summer season and for playing billiards. A library with 25,000 books and a

Theophilus Metcalfe, son of Sir Thomas Metcalfe (died 1853), named as the "One-eyed Metcalfe" due to his monocle, was the city magistrate during the Uprising. He was accused of vengeful destruction of the city and reprisals against its residents, particularly Muslims. During the days of its glory, the town house was famous for the high society social gatherings held in its premises. Extravagant Christmas and New Year parties were held here. An album titled 'Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi', which had 89 folios with about 130 paintings (a few pictured here) of the Mughal and pre-Mughal period monuments, was compiled by Metacalfe with a transcript written by him to his daughter Emily. In this transcript, he piognantly describes the house and the happy incidents that occurred there. It is better quoted in his own words than paraphrased (the photos also show the manuscript).[10]

In this once happy home you all passed your earliest infancy. With exception to Emy and Charley all were born here- and all but Charley have received the initiatory right [sic] of baptism by which Ye were made member of Christ Children of God and inheritors by promise of the Kingdom of Heaven. To your father it has been endeared by many years of more…

An unusual tale recounted is of a lavish

DRDO.[9][11]

The building is now the headquarters of the Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre (DESIDOC) in Delhi.([12]

The Retreat or Dilkhusha

Qutb Complex
built by Metcalfe as a retreat -A Painting from his Folio published in 1843
Qutub Minar
in the picture

The second house in Mehrauli was initially a tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan, brother of Adham Khan, a general and foster brother of Emperor Akbar. The octagonal Mughal tomb built in the 17th century was bought by Metcalfe and remodeled in the style of European residences with extensive gardens and follies for use as a pleasure resort during the monsoon season. He called it the 'Dilkhusha' (also see under External link of the album showing two pictures of Dilkusha as it existed when built). It was spread over a sprawling area, which is now enclosed in a specially developed park called the 'Qutub Archaeological Village'. The purpose in building this place was stated to be that Metcalfe wanted to keep a watch on Emperor Bahadur Shah II who also had his Zafar Mahal palace in Mehrauli to spend his summer time.[3][6][13][14]

The complex was a pleasant place with several controlled streamlets of water, which led to a tank (now called the Metcalfe's Boathouse and Dovecote). The tank was dated to the

ziggurats
).

All of the above can be seen in the Archaeological Park (a special enclosure created recently), which has strategically placed signages showing directions to the various heritage monuments. This village was created by the

Qutub Minar
(see External Link on page 6 for the Map of the Archaeological Village).

The retreat had been built like a

Persian baradari style. The folly was built opposite to the house, surrounded by a sprawling garden. The central hall of the tomb was converted into a dining hall. Two wings were added as annexes, out of which ruins of only one is seen now. He also converted some of the old buildings around the tomb into guesthouse, staff quarters and stables.[6][15] It is also recorded that Metcalfe, the fastidious person that he was, spent lot of time at this place during his 40 years of life in Delhi. He loved this retreat and had a set of rooms made for use as a study and also lodgings for his daughter Emily to stay with him, while his wife and son lived in the formal town house in the old city. Thomas's fondness for this place is reflected in his own words:[1][14][16][17]

The ruins of grandeur that extend for miles on every side fill it with serious reflection," he wrote. "The palaces crumbling into dust... the myriads of vast mausoleums, every one of which was intended to convey to futurity the deathless fame of its cold inhabitant, and all of which are now passed by, unknown and unnoticed. These things cannot be looked at with indifference.

Gallery

  • Dilkhusa with the tomb of Adham Khan, in the distance, 1843
    Dilkhusa with the tomb of Adham Khan, in the distance, 1843
  • Inside view on walls and roof of the central hall of the Dilkhusha in the former Quli Khan tomb
    Inside view on walls and roof of the central hall of the Dilkhusha in the former Quli Khan tomb
  • A Panoramic View of Qutub Minar from old Metcalfe house(Dilkhusha) with Guest House in the foreground on the left
    A Panoramic View of
    Qutub Minar
    from old Metcalfe house(Dilkhusha) with Guest House in the foreground on the left
  • Metcalfe's Guest House in ruins
    Metcalfe's Guest House in ruins
  • Ruins of Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House at Dilkusha.
    Ruins of Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Guest House at Dilkusha.
  • Ziggurat at entrance to Metcalfe house, Qutb complex
    Qutb complex
  • Another (Ziggurat) folly at entrance to Qutb Archaeological village, Mehrauli
    Another (Ziggurat) folly at entrance to Qutb Archaeological village, Mehrauli
  • A popular Folly (Chhatri) built by Metcalfe
    A popular Folly (Chhatri) built by Metcalfe

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Grand designs in Delhi: Mughal tombs converted into palatial mansions, lighthouses built in city gardens and pavilions floating on water. William Dalrymple explores the eccentric architectural legacy of colonial Delhi". The Times of India. 22 October 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  2. ^
    ISBN 9788180280207. Retrieved 1 June 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  3. ^ a b c d Y.D.Sharma (2001). Delhi and its Neighbourhood. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 49, 60, and 141. Archived from the original on 31 August 2005. Retrieved 24 April 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. Legislative Assembly of Delhi
    website.
  5. ^ Addresses[usurped]
  6. ^ a b c d Fiona Hedger-Gourlay; Lindy Ingham; Jo Newton; Emma Tabor; Jill Worrell (13 September 2006). "Lal Kot and Siri" (PDF). pp. 4–11. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  7. ^ "Houses in Delhi in the 1840s". British Library: Help for Researchers. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  8. ISBN 81-7436-354-8. Retrieved 1 June 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  9. ^ a b "This time, that age". The Hindu. 28 December 2003. Archived from the original on 31 January 2004. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  10. ^ Sir Thomas Metcalfe. "Details at British Library page". British Library. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  11. ISBN 81-900601-2-0
    . Page 220.
  12. ^ "The forgotten history of Metcalfe House". Delhipedia. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  13. ^ Alfred Frederick Pollock Harcourt (1866). The New Guide to Delhi. G.A. Savielle. p. 132. Retrieved 1 June 2009. Metcalfe House, Delhi. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  14. ^ a b "The last Mughal chronicler". The Business Standard. 11 June 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  15. ^ "Inside Delhi of Kunwari Begum and Dadi-Poti..." The Hindu. 22 May 2002. Archived from the original on 23 October 2002. Retrieved 3 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "A case of Delhi poisoning?". The Hindu. 4 April 2004. Archived from the original on 6 November 2004. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  17. ^ "Exploring the Mehrauli Archaeological Park". Retrieved 3 June 2009.

External links

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