Navy House, Trincomalee

History

The British colonists seized the Port of Trincomalee from the Dutch in April 1795. This resulted in the British East Indian Fleet establishing their naval fortress in one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. The Chief of Customs of that time, Mr Lisigun, rented a 20-acre block of land near the harbour with a house perched on a small hill. It was to house the British Admiral and other high-ranking officers. Muslim carvings on door frames of the house, and 16th-century carvings of the crescent and star which was on a tall wall in the southern corner of the building, pave the way for speculation that the house was built by the Muslims from a village closer to the fort. The Dutch subsequently renovated the house converting it into a larger Dutch-style residence. Further refurbishment to the house concealed this artwork.

The commander of the British East India Fleet, Vice Admiral William Drury, was the first person to reside in this house and the first admiral to occupy the home was Vice Admiral Samuel Hood in 1811. He was instrumental in converting the Trincomalee harbour into one of the major ports in the South East Asian Region. Having commanded the Navy for 13 months, he sent a letter to the Under Secretary of Colonial Estates in Britain, requesting that this House be completely taken over by the Royal Navy. It was only 29 years later his request was heeded and in 1840, and The Admirals House was secured by the Royal Navy for 1750 pounds.

On 22 December 1811, Captain Robinson of the 19th Infantry Battalion became the owner of the house paying 1312 pounds, and he subsequently decided to sell the house for 2000 pounds. The house was valued and sold to the Royal Navy for 1750 pounds. Admiral Samuel Hood expanded the house into a large mansion, which he occupied it until his death. He loved Trincomalee harbour very much and in 1812, during his period, he built the dockyard and rebuilt the Admirals House almost changing everything except for the foundation. A naval artisan who built a verandah around the house named it the ‘Stern Walk’. The living room facing the harbour is in the Western side and the main bedroom is in the middle of the house. It is believed that the Southern and Eastern parts of the Verandah had been built in the 19th century.

In 1827, Rear Admiral John Hage, added a picturesque view to the house by planting coconut palms around the house. With the dying of coconut palms, 49 palm trees were brought from the Andaman Islands and planted by the daughter of Admiral Fisher and the wife of Admiral Fullerton. The Banyan tree which was planted during the same year had grown into a large tree by 1955. It expanded covering more than 300 yards. It is believed that this is the largest banyan tree in Sri Lanka.

The giant bell(gong) hanging at the entrance of the house was brought from the Vanquished Fortress in Burma in the 16th Century. Rear Admiral Charles Austin who died while he was serving here had donated this bell in 1850. John Austin, his brother was a famous writer in the 19th century.

The security of the house was done by the British Rifle Regiment as Trincomalee lasted as a garrison fortress and 1857 on wards its security was carried out by the Ceylon Rifle Regiment. Since the turn of the 20th century it was kept under the supervision of a senior naval officer who was stationed in Colombo. In 1905 it was again opened for Rear Admiral Sir George Warrender who had a residence in Bombay. He took away furniture, kitchen appliances and some crockery etc. to the Navy House there. Rear Admiral Sir Edmond Slade who succeeded Rear Admiral Warrender brought back all the items that had been taken away to Bombay.

In 1924 with the supply of material to develop and renovate the radio broadcasting stations in Matara and Trincomalee, colourful bulbs and fans were fixed. The house was closed up for a period of time and its reopening in 1924 saw the beginning of a new era for the Navy House for all the subsequent residents sought to maintain the house and its surroundings. Rear Admiral Herbert Richmond set the precedent by maintaining the place, clearing the area around the house and adorning the place with flowers.

In 1932 the wife of Vice Admiral Fullerton gave a new look to the Navy House. Bougainvillea plants from the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens were planted in front of the tennis court. The next admiral also maintained the house thereby making the Navy House a symbol of beauty. In 1935 a water supply system was established in the house. In 1937 a breadfruit tree was planted and wild orchids were introduced in 1938 further enhancing the beauty of the house.

Once the Naval Headquarters was relocated to Colombo, the officers were provided with accommodation near the Victoria Arcade Building in Colombo Fort. From then onwards officers no longer resided in the Navy House. Vice Admiral JF Somerville was the last officer to reside in there until it was again occupied in 1941. The dining hall was converted into an officers' mess, the sitting room into a big restaurant and the Bed Rooms into cabins. Hence the beauty of the house gradually diminished. This was further exacerbated with the bombing of Trincomalee harbour by the Japanese on 5 April 1942. The officers who lived in the Dockyard were then sheltered in the Navy House which affected the quality and the value of the house.

Taking into consideration the strategic location and the operational importance of Trincomalee harbour in 1946, the Admiral’s office was relocated to Trincomalee. Aftermath of the war the Navy House required extensive renovation and this was done by then Commander Sir Arthur F E Palsier. The billiard room was extended, the dining hall was converted into a food preparation room, and the dining hall in the middle of the house was changed into a reception hall to welcome guests, and extra bedrooms were converted into bathrooms. He furnished the House with artifacts from England. Most importantly he regained it’s lost glory.

The beauty of the surrounding of the house was restored by Admiral Sir Henry Oliver in 1951 by introducing bush type plants, called Hibiscus. In 1952 Commander William Slayter also did many changes to the house. Old wooden pillars were replaced by iron pillars, the ceiling was fixed with a ceiling board and the roof was fixed with concrete. In 1954, the wife of Admiral Charles Norris did some changes too by adding new electrical equipment and painting the building.

The last admiral who resided in the Navy House, Admiral H W Biggs, built a Duck pond near the garage. His tenure there was short and in 1957 he organized a dinner dance as he was quite reluctant to leave this place. On 15 October 1957, the Trincomalee Naval Dockyard was officially handed over to the Sri Lankan government by the Royal Navy and since then the property been a possession of the Sri Lanka Navy.