26/03/2012
A century-old collection of photographs of India has recently been discovered in the RCAHMS archive. The rare and fragile glass plate negatives, which date back to around 1912, show life on the subcontinent at the high point of the British Raj.
The 178 negatives were stored in their original five-by-eight inch plate boxes and wrapped in copies of the 'Statesman' newspaper dating from 1914. Founded in 1875, the 'Statesman' is one of India’s largest circulation English language newspapers, and is still published today.
Highlights from the imagery include celebrations for the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Calcutta in 1912 – the only visit by a British monarch to India while it was still part of the Empire – with the city’s buildings lit up at night in tribute; ships arriving at the Chandpal Ghat, the main landing place for visitors to Calcutta along the Hooghly river; pilgrims gathered for a religious festival on the Maidan, the large urban park at the centre of Calcutta; and merchants selling their wares outside the eleventh century Jagganath Hindu temple in Orissa.
All 178 negatives have now been digitised, and you can browse a selection of the best images here in our gallery.
SC 1165245
Buildings on south east side of the Lal Dighi (BBD Bagh, formerly Dalhousie Square), Kolkata lit at night for the 1912 British royal visit.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1165267
Riverside scene with bathers, looking north from Chatulal's Ghat towards Ram Chandra Goenka's Zenana (ladies) ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1165271
Group gathered around sweet seller on the Maidan, Kolkata. The group includes non Bengalis, possibly visiting for a festival.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1165277
Ascetics or sadhus seated, possibly near Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175674
Seated group of woman and children on the Maidan, Kolkata. The family are likely to be pilgrims to a festival from outside Bengal.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175712
Riverbank with bathers and ship, probably from Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175714
Probable pilgrim with cow and calf, Kolkata. The High Court is visible in the background.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175716
Seated ascetic or sadhu reciting from book, possible pilgrim, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175720
Street market at Babu Ghat, Kolkata. Also known as Rani Rashmoni Ghat. The ghat was founded by Rani Rashmoni in memory of her husband. The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple was also founded by Rani Rashmoni, who was a widow, successful businesswoman, philanthropist and leader of clashes against the British relating to taxation of the poor. Ahirtola Ghat and Nimtola Ghat were also built by Rani Rashmoni to allow access to river to the common people for bathing.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175722
Riverside scene with bathers, Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata. Bathers reached the river through tunnels under the railway line.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175724
Crowded riverside with bathers, Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata. Bathers reached the river through tunnels under the railway line.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175726
Telegraph Office, Kolkata. Nicknamed the 'Dead letter office', BBD Bagh (Dalhousie Square) from Old Courthouse Street. Former 'General Electric Co (India) Ltd next door.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175737
Seated group of sadhus at Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175740
Group seated in two ferry canoes moored in stream. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175743
General Post Office from across the Lal Dighi tank, Kolkata. The scaffolding could be for the lighting celebrating the British royal visit in 1912.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175747
Waterside with washerman and washing lines at a dhobi ghat. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175749
Waterside with group of washermen at a dhobi ghat. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175761
Washermen on waterside at a dhobi ghat, with 'White Horse' (likely whisky advertisement) sign in the background. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175779
Serampore (Fredericknagore), St Olaf's Church. A Lutheran Church built by Colonel Bie, the Danish Governor, in 1805. The Danes had established a base in 1699. William Carey, the English Baptist missionary who established the first printing press in Asia, conducted the first service.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175787
Jain Temple complex, Kolkata. Entrance steps from the pond to east.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176092
Street hairdresser giving a 'Hindustani haircut' (pudding bowl), Strand Road South, Kolkata. The High Court is in the left distance, the building behind could be the Volunteer HQ.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176100
River scene with moored fishing boats, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176110
Painted elephant, probably on the Maidan, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176114
Muhurram procession with taziya through crowded street, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176120
Unknown man playing tennis. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176141
Coach outside 'Moslem Printing Works', probably Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196303
Crowd watching stick dance on the Maidan, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196350
Fishing boats. Unknown location, possibly the Salt Lakes to east of Kolkata or the Sundarbans to the south.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196378
Group of children with donkeys. Unknown location, possibly in Darjeeling or north Bengal.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196703
Ship, possibly taken from passing ship or shore of the Hooghly, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196710
Detail of figures on ship's deck, possibly taken from passing ship or shore, probably the Hooghly, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196717
General Post Office and Royal Insurance Building from across the Lal Dighi tank, Kolkata, lit for the British royal visit.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196763
H Hobbs & Co, 4 Esplanade East, Kolkata, lit for the British royal visit. The shop sat next to the Military (Ordnance) Department. Harry Hobbs (1864-1956) arrived in Calcutta to work as a piano tuner in 1883. In 1893 he established his own company, H Hobbs and Co Ltd which advertised as 'Pianoforte importers, repairers and tuners, player pianos and extensive library of perforated music. Agents for Ky-Ko non-electric fans'. Hobbs lived above the branch on 4 Esplande East until his death in 1956 (apart from travel to the UK and abroad). The shop itself moved to 9 Esplanade East and then 21 Old Courthouse Street. For a period before and then again during and after World War II, he was also 'Special Director' Manager of Spence's Hotel (now demolished). He was a successful businessman and Calcutta character, writing a number of newspaper articles and books on Calcutta life. By the time of his death his obituary made the claim that he had been the oldest living European in India. Information on Hobbs from various sources including from 'The Chingri Kal Chronicles' by Malcolm Tucker, Hobbs' grandson.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196774
The 'new' Bengal Club, Kolkata lit for British royal visit; seen from across the General's Tank on the Maidan. This part of the club is now demolished, having been completed in 1908 by the architect J Vincent Esch (who was also supervising architect for the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata).
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197433
Two men stick dancing with onlooking crowd, Maidan, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197439
Chotulal's Ghat, Kolkata. Photograph probably taken from the old Howrah Bridge.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197441
Chotulal's Ghat, Kolkata. Photograph probably taken from the old Howrah Bridge.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197574
Muharram procession with taziya, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1165245
Buildings on south east side of the Lal Dighi (BBD Bagh, formerly Dalhousie Square), Kolkata lit at night for the 1912 British royal visit.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1165267
Riverside scene with bathers, looking north from Chatulal's Ghat towards Ram Chandra Goenka's Zenana (ladies) ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1165271
Group gathered around sweet seller on the Maidan, Kolkata. The group includes non Bengalis, possibly visiting for a festival.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1165277
Ascetics or sadhus seated, possibly near Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175674
Seated group of woman and children on the Maidan, Kolkata. The family are likely to be pilgrims to a festival from outside Bengal.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175712
Riverbank with bathers and ship, probably from Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175714
Probable pilgrim with cow and calf, Kolkata. The High Court is visible in the background.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175716
Seated ascetic or sadhu reciting from book, possible pilgrim, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175720
Street market at Babu Ghat, Kolkata. Also known as Rani Rashmoni Ghat. The ghat was founded by Rani Rashmoni in memory of her husband. The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple was also founded by Rani Rashmoni, who was a widow, successful businesswoman, philanthropist and leader of clashes against the British relating to taxation of the poor. Ahirtola Ghat and Nimtola Ghat were also built by Rani Rashmoni to allow access to river to the common people for bathing.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175722
Riverside scene with bathers, Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata. Bathers reached the river through tunnels under the railway line.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175724
Crowded riverside with bathers, Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata. Bathers reached the river through tunnels under the railway line.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175726
Telegraph Office, Kolkata. Nicknamed the 'Dead letter office', BBD Bagh (Dalhousie Square) from Old Courthouse Street. Former 'General Electric Co (India) Ltd next door.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175737
Seated group of sadhus at Chandpal Ghat, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175740
Group seated in two ferry canoes moored in stream. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175743
General Post Office from across the Lal Dighi tank, Kolkata. The scaffolding could be for the lighting celebrating the British royal visit in 1912.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175747
Waterside with washerman and washing lines at a dhobi ghat. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175749
Waterside with group of washermen at a dhobi ghat. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175761
Washermen on waterside at a dhobi ghat, with 'White Horse' (likely whisky advertisement) sign in the background. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175779
Serampore (Fredericknagore), St Olaf's Church. A Lutheran Church built by Colonel Bie, the Danish Governor, in 1805. The Danes had established a base in 1699. William Carey, the English Baptist missionary who established the first printing press in Asia, conducted the first service.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1175787
Jain Temple complex, Kolkata. Entrance steps from the pond to east.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176092
Street hairdresser giving a 'Hindustani haircut' (pudding bowl), Strand Road South, Kolkata. The High Court is in the left distance, the building behind could be the Volunteer HQ.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176100
River scene with moored fishing boats, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176110
Painted elephant, probably on the Maidan, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176114
Muhurram procession with taziya through crowded street, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176120
Unknown man playing tennis. Unknown location.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1176141
Coach outside 'Moslem Printing Works', probably Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196303
Crowd watching stick dance on the Maidan, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196350
Fishing boats. Unknown location, possibly the Salt Lakes to east of Kolkata or the Sundarbans to the south.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196378
Group of children with donkeys. Unknown location, possibly in Darjeeling or north Bengal.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196703
Ship, possibly taken from passing ship or shore of the Hooghly, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196710
Detail of figures on ship's deck, possibly taken from passing ship or shore, probably the Hooghly, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196717
General Post Office and Royal Insurance Building from across the Lal Dighi tank, Kolkata, lit for the British royal visit.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196763
H Hobbs & Co, 4 Esplanade East, Kolkata, lit for the British royal visit. The shop sat next to the Military (Ordnance) Department. Harry Hobbs (1864-1956) arrived in Calcutta to work as a piano tuner in 1883. In 1893 he established his own company, H Hobbs and Co Ltd which advertised as 'Pianoforte importers, repairers and tuners, player pianos and extensive library of perforated music. Agents for Ky-Ko non-electric fans'. Hobbs lived above the branch on 4 Esplande East until his death in 1956 (apart from travel to the UK and abroad). The shop itself moved to 9 Esplanade East and then 21 Old Courthouse Street. For a period before and then again during and after World War II, he was also 'Special Director' Manager of Spence's Hotel (now demolished). He was a successful businessman and Calcutta character, writing a number of newspaper articles and books on Calcutta life. By the time of his death his obituary made the claim that he had been the oldest living European in India. Information on Hobbs from various sources including from 'The Chingri Kal Chronicles' by Malcolm Tucker, Hobbs' grandson.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1196774
The 'new' Bengal Club, Kolkata lit for British royal visit; seen from across the General's Tank on the Maidan. This part of the club is now demolished, having been completed in 1908 by the architect J Vincent Esch (who was also supervising architect for the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata).
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197433
Two men stick dancing with onlooking crowd, Maidan, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197439
Chotulal's Ghat, Kolkata. Photograph probably taken from the old Howrah Bridge.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197441
Chotulal's Ghat, Kolkata. Photograph probably taken from the old Howrah Bridge.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)
SC 1197574
Muharram procession with taziya, Kolkata.
© Courtesy of HES (Indian Glass Plate Collection)