A dying relic of the British Raj
By Shabry

TILL last year, as one walked through the Himachal Pradesh High Court gates, the double-storeyed green and white, wooden Ravenswood rose up to greet the eyes. Today that elegant building is obscured by a multi-storey concrete structure which will now house the High Court. Behind this, the elegant Ravenswood is quietly breathing its last. This century-old building will be razed to the ground in order to provide open space for the court complex. Beauty and elegance will be sacrificed at the altar of convenience.

In 1850, Ravenswood was purchased by O’Meara, a well known dental surgeon. Seventeen years later, it was used by the Financial Secretary to the Government of British India, L. Lushington. The building was subsequently purchased by the Raja of Faridkot, who redesigned it with the help of a well-known British architect.

After Independence, it was converted by the Punjab Government into the state Circuit House. In 1966, it became the seat of the Circuit Bench of the Delhi High Court for the Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh. When Himachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1971, it became the seat of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

At the entrance of Ravenswood, wooden steps lead to the first floor. The wood work of the building is unique. The wooden floor and ceiling are unparalleled in their quaint beauty. All in all, Ravenswood is a relic of the British days. It is one of the few buildings which has withstood the ravages of time. Some of the majestic buildings of the British era were gutted by fire and others got destroyed by negligence. In 1992, there was a move to demolish Ravenswood but at that point INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) stepped in. Due to the intervention of this body, Ravenswood survived. It was then buttressed and strengthened by INTACH.

Today, however, there is no messiah in sight for Ravenswood. Every sound of construction that comes from the new building seems to be a dirge to the dying Ravenswood. As the new monstrous structure is nearing completion, it is sounding the death knell of perhaps, one of the finest wooden structures left in Shimla.