The legacy of Empire - # 196

Why, around 1900, did English architects adopt these forms found on our Edwardian villas and club houses? Puzzling over the pleasing shapes and little pointed architectural roof decorations I suddenly remembered a book I have, "Soldier Artist in Wartime India 1941-45". James Fletcher-Watson went to India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to build military defences. He painted the scenery and published the story in a very fine book in year 2000.

Above is his painting of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, and a tomb beside it.

So it's quite clear that the pointy things on our old club houses and Edwardian villas, and the graceful curved cupolas, like at Brooklands, were brought to England by Britons who went out to India at the height of Empire, appreciated its forms, and brought the ideas home.

I did not know this, but photoblogging helped me to discover it for myself.