Kadugannawa, 1867
Scope and Contents
214 x 151 mm. View looking along the line towards Dawson's Monument: ‘True and animated is the photograph by Messrs. Slinn of the top of the incline with Dawson's Monument as the central object: poor Newton's Bungalow on one side and groups of Natives drawn up on the other in front of the goods station, in course of construction, as shown by the scaffolding and the workmen on the walls’ (p. 13). C.H. Newton was an engineer who died before the railway was completed. Dawson's Monument, a 125 foot obelisk similar to the column carrying the statue of the Duke of York near Waterloo Place, was erected in 1832 to the memory of Captain William Francis Dawson, officer commanding Royal Engineers in Ceylon. Dawson joined the Royal Engineers in 1807 and after service from 1815-18 in the Netherlands and France, was posted to Ceylon in 1819. He acted for a time as Sir Edward Barnes' private secretary before being selected to command the Corps in Ceylon and was responsible for completing, in 1822, the first proper road up the Kadugannawa Pass. The inscription reads: ‘Captain W.F. Dawson, during the Government of General Sir. E. Barnes, G.C.B., commanding Royal Engineer, Ceylon, whose Science and Skill planned and executed this Road and other works of public utility. Died at Colombo, 28th March, 1829. By a subscription among his friends and admirers in Ceylon this monument was raised to his memory. 1832’. For a more detailed biographical note, see J. Penry Lewis, ‘List of Inscriptions on tombstones and monuments in Ceylon’ (Colombo 1913), pp. 339-40.
Dates
- Creation: 1867
Creator
- From the Fonds: Faviell, William Frederick, 1822 - 1902 (railway engineer) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
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Language of Materials
English
Finding aid date
2015-09-08 14:03:30+00:00
Geographic
Repository Details
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