Navy House, Trincomalee
| Navy House | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Trincomalee |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Owner | Sri Lanka Navy |
Navy House is an official residence of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, located in SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. It was formerly the official residence of the naval officer commanding, HM Dockyard, Trincomalee and later the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station of the Royal Navy until 1957 when British forces departed from Ceylon.
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.
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