3-021-285 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Part of the Old Fort, Calcutta, 1869. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. Baker. 'The Old Fort, on the site now partly occupied by the custom-house, was founded by Lord Clive, after the battle of Plassy, in 1757, and was named after William III. It adjoined the infamous Black Hole or dungeon, where 146 Englishmen were confined many hours, and 123 of them stifled to death, by order of the Nabob, Surajah Dowlah, in June, 1756. The Black Hole itself disappeared about fifty years ago...[There is] a fine double range of Moorish arches. This is the Piazza. There remain thirteen sets of these arches: most of those to the right have been recently covered with plaster. Those in front still display the beautiful old close masonry of fine small bricks. The columns of this crypt-like piazza are low and very massive, evidently thus constructed to afford due support to the terreplein and its ordnance on the still terraced and raftered roof, which, like that of the Black Hole, is about 18 ft. high. This piazza is evidently ancient. It probably dates from 1605...The width of each arch is about 9ft. The columns are about 4 ft. thick. The whole length of the piazza is, therefore, about 169 ft. The original length of the south curtain was about 390 ft.' From "Illustrated London News", 1869.