“THIS BRIDGE” – A British period monument at Saidapet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 19^th November 2016

This protected monument inscription starts with “This Bridge” and is between Saidapet and Nandanam separately fenced in the PWD vehicles repair shop ( Arasu Pannai Gramam ). This was originally built with an obelisk, which is missing now. This was built on the surplus water channel from a large tank, which once existed along the western edge of Mount Road, starting at Saidapet and curving along the Nungambakkam High Road. The water in the channel flows between the present Tod Hunter Nagar and Pern Pet.  This memorial pillar is under the control of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological  Department as a protected monument.

This monument was erected in the year 1786 CE, by a merchant called Adrin Fourbeck ( 1712 to 1783 CE ).  As per his will, Chief Engineer of Madras ( Government ) Let. Col.  Patrick Ross built this bridge for the benefit of the general public under the guidance of his secretaries Thomas  Pelling, John de Fries, and Peter  Bodin.  The four sides of the pillar have the same message inscribed in Tamil, English, Latin, and Persian.

The inscription in English reads as...

1. This Bridge
2. Erected as a Public Benefit
3. From a Legacy
4. By Bestowed
5. Mr. Adrian Four Beck
6. A Merchant of Madras
7. Is a monument
8. Useful as lasting
9. Of the Good citizen's
10. Munificent – liberality
11. It was erected
12. By his executors
13. T. Pulling I Defries & P. Bodkin
14. From the plan
15. and under the direction
16. Lieut:t col:L Pat: K Ross
17. Chief Engineer
18. In the year of our lord
19. 1786
20. Maj:r Gen:1 Sir Arch:d Campbell
21. Knight of the Most Honble
22. Being the order of the batch
23. Governor of Fort St. George

For further reading, a post by Mr. Venkatesh, writer and Historian on the face book click here. Thanks for the Details.

The "other bridge" we may have to miss on the walk. As early as 1772, citizens led by free merchant Andrew Ross offered to build “a Bridge over the Brook at Mamelon”. This, in fact, was the Surplus Channel of the Long Tank which once existed all along the western edge of Mount Road, starting at Saidapet and curving along Nungambakkam High Road.

The Bridge was eventually built in 1786 according to the instructions left in Adrian Fourbeck’s will. Fourbeck, who was born “in the East” in 1712, became a member of the Gunroom Crew in Fort St George as soon as he was old enough. He was discharged on a disability pension of Pagodas 1-14-0 in 1740. He then teamed with Samuel Troutback and became a success in business.

He died in 1783 and his Executors Thomas Pelling, John de Fries, and Peter Bodin ensured that the terms of his will were honored. The bridge was built under the direction of Lt. Col. Patrick Ross, the Chief (Government) Engineer of Madras at the time a four-sided pedestal with the remains of an obelisk atop it. The panels on the four sides bear the same message, English, Latin, Persian, and Tamil versions each occupying a side and stating, among much else, “This bridge, erected as a public benefit from a legacy bestowed by Adrian Fourbeck, a merchant of Madras, is a monument … (to) the good citizen’s munificent liberality.” The memorial is one of the few dating to the British period that is on the list of protected monuments of the Tamil Nadu Government’s Department of Archaeology. 

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

  

  ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---