by M Ilyas
Some months ago, a petition appeared online at www.change.org, to 'Save Lockhart House, in Abbottabad, Pakistan''. This petition, addressed to the DC Abbottabad, further stated that:
''Save Lockhart House .This was the home of Gen Sir William Lockhart (1841-1900) built and completed around 1880 and now marked for demolition by the Cantt Board and Military Estate Office, in Abbottabad town. You can help to secure a permanent future for this fine historic structure. Lockhart House is a vital part of Abbottabad's colonial heritage which is being rapidly lost by blind, unplanned development, that does not take into account the preservation of the past.''
It is not known what was the final outcome of this petition, as some people from Pakistan, UK, Australia and Canada, also petitioned the Commandant PMA (Pakistan Military Academy) and the Abbottabad Station Commandant (Military), and for the time being it seems that the plan to demolish this old heritage building, has been postponed.
Gen Lockhart was a British soldier who served for long years on the North-West Frontier and retired after becoming Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army, he was very fond of Abbottabad town and he and his family decided to build a house there. This house was probably made in the 1880-1890 period (completed) and the Lockhart family used to live here regularly. Very interesting fact, that they also built another annex or cottage nearby, which they used to house guests, and today, this also ruined building is called 'Kipling House' by local people, due to the fact that John Lockwood Kipling, manager of the Mayo College of Arts (now NCA) in Lahore, and father of famed writer Rudyard Kipling, used to come and stay here during the 1880s and 1890s. He was a great personal friend of Gen Lockhart. Some people also believe that JL Kipling's family also stayed here with him one or two summers, including Rudyard Kipling, but there is no proper historical evidence of this. In fact, its most likely, that both Lockhart House and the additional house, were completed after Rudyard had left India permanently, for England.
Later on, after 1947, both Lockhart House (main) and so-called 'Kipling House' became part of Federal Government (FG) School in Abbottabad, classes used to be held here, and these buildings are still on campus of this institution, although not in use anymore due to bad condition.
Staff of the FG College dont know whats in store for these buildings, especially the historic and splendid looking Lockhart House, which was the loved home once of a former C-in-C of the Army and his family. This building also has great tourist potential, it can be saved and developed either as a museum or heritage place. Maybe the present Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan Army) might take a personal interest, to salvage this home of a predecessor, for the sake of future? That would be a good thing to do.
Lockhart House, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Some months ago, a petition appeared online at www.change.org, to 'Save Lockhart House, in Abbottabad, Pakistan''. This petition, addressed to the DC Abbottabad, further stated that:
''Save Lockhart House .This was the home of Gen Sir William Lockhart (1841-1900) built and completed around 1880 and now marked for demolition by the Cantt Board and Military Estate Office, in Abbottabad town. You can help to secure a permanent future for this fine historic structure. Lockhart House is a vital part of Abbottabad's colonial heritage which is being rapidly lost by blind, unplanned development, that does not take into account the preservation of the past.''
It is not known what was the final outcome of this petition, as some people from Pakistan, UK, Australia and Canada, also petitioned the Commandant PMA (Pakistan Military Academy) and the Abbottabad Station Commandant (Military), and for the time being it seems that the plan to demolish this old heritage building, has been postponed.
Gen Lockhart was a British soldier who served for long years on the North-West Frontier and retired after becoming Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army, he was very fond of Abbottabad town and he and his family decided to build a house there. This house was probably made in the 1880-1890 period (completed) and the Lockhart family used to live here regularly. Very interesting fact, that they also built another annex or cottage nearby, which they used to house guests, and today, this also ruined building is called 'Kipling House' by local people, due to the fact that John Lockwood Kipling, manager of the Mayo College of Arts (now NCA) in Lahore, and father of famed writer Rudyard Kipling, used to come and stay here during the 1880s and 1890s. He was a great personal friend of Gen Lockhart. Some people also believe that JL Kipling's family also stayed here with him one or two summers, including Rudyard Kipling, but there is no proper historical evidence of this. In fact, its most likely, that both Lockhart House and the additional house, were completed after Rudyard had left India permanently, for England.
Later on, after 1947, both Lockhart House (main) and so-called 'Kipling House' became part of Federal Government (FG) School in Abbottabad, classes used to be held here, and these buildings are still on campus of this institution, although not in use anymore due to bad condition.
Staff of the FG College dont know whats in store for these buildings, especially the historic and splendid looking Lockhart House, which was the loved home once of a former C-in-C of the Army and his family. This building also has great tourist potential, it can be saved and developed either as a museum or heritage place. Maybe the present Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan Army) might take a personal interest, to salvage this home of a predecessor, for the sake of future? That would be a good thing to do.
Lockhart House, Abbottabad, Pakistan
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