Miscellaneous
In case you would
like to visit some
other interesting
British Period
buildings, we
suggest a detour
from Charing Cross
towards the
northeast via
Khalifa Shujauddin
Road (formerly
Egerton Road). This
road will take you
past Faletti's, an
old world-style
hotel. At the
junction of the
famous Shimla (Simla)
Hill if you turn
left on Empress Road
you will be able to
view three churches
on the way to
Naulakha area and
the quaint Railway
Station.
Early Churches
The first church
that you will
encounter on the
left (west) is St.
Anthony's Church.
The neo-Gothic
building is
dominated by its
tall octagonal tower
which marks the
entrance vestibule
as well. Other
predominant
architectural
features include the
recurring solid
masonry buttresses
and tiled pitched
roofs which lend the
church a special
character. Although
comparatively simple
in plan, and
carrying little
flourish of
ornamentation, the
church is striking
in its unaffected
demeanor and a lofty
nave of handsome
proportions.
You might like to
walk to the rear of
the compound where
you will find a
white-washed
single-storey
structure with
massive brick walls
and cusped arched
verandah,
reminiscent of 19th
century bungalows of
the city.
Opposite the church
on the east is the
impressive North
Western Railway
Headquarters. It is
a brick structure,
echoing the
transparent air of
veranda arcading
seen in several
other buildings of
the period, e.g.
Deputy
Commissioner's
office encountered
in the early part of
this rahguzar.
A little further
north of the Railway
Headquarters and set
back from the road
(Empress Road) is
St. Andrew's Church
with its calm and
quiet compound. It
is an attractive
church built with
mellow red Lahori
brick. In contrast
to its neighbor St.
Anthony's across the
road, St. Andrew's
relies on Roman
arched openings on
the ground, while
twin Romanesque
windows adorn the
belfry tower.
This octagonal tower
punctured by Roman
arch openings ends
in a decorative
flourish and a
cupola. The pitched
roofs of the nave
and side ambulatory
covered with simple
metallic covering
point towards an
economical
construction.
Although originally
the church came
about as a result of
a makeshift
arrangement, the
building is
impressive in its
simplicity and
unadorned,
unpretentious
architectural
character.
According to Latif,
the church was
constructed over the
grave of Muhammad
Saleh Kamboh, the
court chronicler of
Emperor Shahjahan
and his brother
Inayatullah.
Muhammad Saleh tomb,
originally faced
with red sandstone,
suffered much damage
during the Sikh
Period when the
domed section was
utilized as a powder
magazine. After
British annexation,
the structure served
as a residence of an
'English gentleman'
and became known as
Seymour Sahib Ki
Kothi—the domed
portion being used
as a carriage house.
However, when the
structure was
converted into a
church, side rooms
were added, and it
became known as St.
Andrew's Railway
Church.
As in the case of
other such
establishments, the
church authorities
have ensured that no
encroachments or
buildings are
constructed to
undermine the
original historic
structures and
surrounding open
spaces.
Another interesting
church located in
close proximity on
Nicholson Road is
the Presbyterian
Church at the comer
of Boharwala Chowk
(crossing of
Nicholson Road and
Allama Iqbal Road).
The church is sited
in a small compound
and does not have
the expansive
grounds as in the
case of some of the
other churches.
If you are
interested in Mughal
architecture, you
could go straight
(east) across Allama
Iqbal Road, and see
one of the most
spectacular Mughal
monuments, the
Mosque of Dai Anga,
that once did duty
as the office of
Traffic
Superintendent.
Railway Station
Turning left
(northwest) on
Boharwala Chowk you
will find yourself
on Allama Iqbal
Road, one of the
several roads that
converge on the
historically
important railway
station. This was
literally the first
purpose-built
British imperial
building, its
foundation stone
haying been laid by
John Lawrence in
1859, and it cost
half a million
rupees to build.
With scars of the
1857 ghaddar fresh
in the minds of the
rulers and fear of
mutiny, it is not
surprising that the
railway station was
designed as a
fortified castle,
complete with
"bastions at the
angles of 'keeps' or
towers rising above
them." Historian
Latif noted that
these towers
"command the several
approaches and
provide for a
flanking defense of
the curtains or
outsides of the
station, which also
are loop-holed for
musketry fire over
the surrounding
neighborhood. This
fire can be further
strengthened from
the several towers
and turrets which
overlook and command
all surroundings in
the immediate
vicinity of the
station. These
arrangements appear
to be all that is
necessary to secure
the station against
an attack with small
arms or against a
sudden rush."
At the time one of
the major concerns
was the safety of
railway employees,
and accordingly, the
building was
designed to provide
accommodation for
"refuge of the
Railway staff and
others in any time
of danger."
Constructed entirely
of brick masonry,
its quaint square
turrets rise above
the main structure
and carry large
clocks which could
be visible from
great distances,
once again
underscoring the
importance of time
that an
industrialized
society such as
England was keen to
inculcate in the
local public.
The earliest of the
Raj structures of
Lahore, few railway
stations can present
a picturesque view
such as this. The
station provides a
grand setting for
the important
railway junction
that Lahore became
ever since the first
train was run to
Amritsar in 1860.
Later, when linkages
had been established
with Bombay,
Calcutta and
Peshawar, and in
1889 with Karachi,
Lahore contributed
significantly to
making Karachi the
largest exporter of
wheat by
transporting wheat
from Punjab's canal
colonies.
During the Second
Anglo-Afghan War
(1878), Lahore
played a key role by
facilitating the
passage of 75 trains
every 24 hours to
carry troops and
provisions to the
war destination.
Famous Schools
To return to our
original route of
the Upper Mall, we
will need to double
back on Allama Iqbal
Road, and turn right
onto Durand Road
(since Empress Road
is one way). It is
on this road that
two famous young
women's institutions
are located—Queen
Mary College and the
Convent of Jesus and
Mary. Queen Mary
College is a school
which originally
operated on the same
principle as
Aitchison College,
and was opened for
the daughters of the
chiefs and rajas. It
was built in 1912-13
and followed the
popular Anglo-Mughal
style. The college
has played a crucial
role in the
education of women.
Many women belonging
to older
generations, who
took on challenging
tasks, owe much to
their education at
Queen Mary's
College.
Along with the
convent. Queen
Mary's has educated
generations of
Lahorites.Old Anarkali Buildings
The Upper Mall Heritage
Charing Cross Group
Miscellaneous
Imperial Edifices
G.O.R. & Cantonment Buildings
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