Fort St. David Subterranean Ways

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The comparatively wretched casemates [note 1] and subterranean ways (SMITH, G 1882: 375) of Fort St. David have been interpreted as subterranean passages under the glacis (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 12: 102). ETYMOLOGY: The place was originally known as Tegnapatam or Devipatam; and it has been conjectured with much probability that it was named Fort St. David by Elihu Yale, then Governor of Fort St. George [Madras, -renamed- or saffronised Chennai], who was a Welshman, in honour of his country's patron saint (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 12: 102). … established in A.D. 1691, when the [East India Company's] Court of Directors ordered a purchase to be made from the Ram Raja of a new settlement named Tegnapatam, which was accordingly re-named Fort St. David … (HAMILTON, W 1828, 1: 148) after Orme, Bruce, Wilks &c. SITUATION 1828: On the sea-coast of the Carnatic, sixteen miles [26 km] south of Pondicherry, and 100 S.S.W. [161 km south-south-west] from Madras; lat. 11° 45' N., on. 79° 50' E. (HAMILTON, W 18128, 1: 548). SITUATION 1882: 1 1/2 m. [2.4 km] from Cuddalore (SMITH, G 1882: 375). SITUATION 1908: … in 11° 45' N. and 79° 47' E., on the bank of the Gadilam river near the point where it falls into the Bay of Bengal, about 1.5 miles east of Cuddalore New Town. The place is now included within the limits of the municipality of Cuddalore (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 12: 101). DESCRIPTION 1908: A curious feature of the fortifications was the subterranean passages under the glacis. These appear to have run completely round the fort, thus forming a safe means of communication for the garrison. At short intervals other galleries, striking off at right angles and terminating in powder chambers, served as mines. At the south-east corner the gallery run down to the edge of the sea. Some of these passages are still to be seen (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 12: 102). DESCRIPTION 1882: Fort St. David, a barrack-yard the wretched casemates and subterranea ways of which still exist 1 1/2 m. from Cuddalore (SMITH, G 1882: 375). ways of which still exist 1 1/2 m. from Cuddalore (SMITH, G 1882: 375).