GUIDE TO THE RESIDENCY.
A. — RESIDENCY.
This was originally an imposing edifice, along the west side of which extended a wide and lofty colonnaded verandah. The main entrance was, on the east side, under a handsome portico, which, at the beginning of the siege, was barricaded with boxes filled with earth, but the building was ill-adapted for purposes of defence, as it contained numberless lofty windows which could not be effectually barricaded, and the roof was only protected by an open balustrade. On the south turret was erected a semaphore for telegraphic communication with Machhi Bawan Fort, and subsequently with the Commander-in-Chief at Alambagh.
In the open space between the water-gate and hospital, the line of defence (indicated by the dotted line on the plan of the Intrenched Position) ran along the irregular ridge of the high level, which was protected by a ditch and low bank of earth made breast-high by the addition of sand-bags. These served as a protection to our men, who were enabled to fire, with comparative safety, through the interstices. Within this space three guns were placed, viz, a 9-pounder, an 18-pounder, and a 24-pounder howitzer, at the back of which, in the open space in front of the Residency, were planted two 8-inch mortars, pointing in the direction of the city.
The Residency grounds had been most tastefully laid out in parterres and contained the choicest flowers and shrubs, but in a short time one could hardly recognize the place, which was suddenly transformed into an arsenal, piles of shot and shell having taken the place of flowers and shrubs which were everywhere trodden down, and of which there was soon not a vestige left.
The ground floor of the Residency was occupied by soldiers of H. M.’s 32nd Regiment, under the command of Captain Low, of the same corps; the rest of the building was completely filled by ladies and children. "Besides having a ground floor and two upper stories it had a tykhana, or underground rooms, which, from its immunity from shot and shell, was occupied by the women and children of the 32nd. It was built to shelter the Resident of the King's court, during the summer, from the extreme heat of the day."
Note. — In the Lucknow Museum there is a model, by the Rev. T. Moore, formerly (1871-74) Civil Chaplain of Lucknow, of the Intrenched Position, a copy of which is kept in the Residency for the information of visitors. It is constructed on a scale of 20 superficial feet to the inch, and, in perpendicular measurement, the scale is 5 feet (for ground only) to the inch.
