The Civic District I

Prime Land...

There was a house built in 1829 and this house was the residence of James Clarke of Guthrie & Co. This home was then rented to Edward Boustead, founder of Boustead & Co. from 1836 to 1843.

This George D. Coleman original was so much in demand that Mr. & Mrs. Gaston Dutronquoy used it as the main building of their London Hotel in 1845.

The Dutronquoy later sold their establishment to a french woman who added sophistication to the district by remaning the London Hotel to Hotel L'Esperance.

In early 1865, Mr. Casteleyns decided to maintain the ambience by called it Hotel de L'Europe.

Soon the big boys were eyeing the property and they snapped it up and put their mark on it by extending the building. They decided that it was no longer just Hotel de L’ Europe. It was now part of Grand Hotel de L'Europe. But alas, fate handed a blow and before the Grand Hotel de L'Europe could see completion, it was sold in 1910 and renamed Adis Building

But human beings are such funny creatures. Despite the simplicity of the new name, they preferred the sophistication of Hotel de L'Europe.

The British administration finally staked its claim and demolished the building in 1934 so as to make way for the Supreme Court Building.

In 1939, Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements declared the building open and handed over to Chief Justice, Sir Percy McElwaine. 




National Monument Status

Under section 9 of the Preservation of Monuments Act this building was gazetted on 14 February 1992 as one of Singapore's National Monuments.



The Frieze...

There is a frieze of signing of the 1819 treaty between Raffles and the Sultan Hussein. It was not easy to locate the frieze but we eventually saw it just above the entrance of the building. We felt that something as significant as this should be more prominently displayed.



The Architecture

The old Supreme Court Building was the last architectural masterpiece by Frank Dorrington-Ward (the Chief Architect of the Public Works Department) who firmly from the school of classical architecture. The Corinthian styled building has a large dome and elaborately carved Allegory of Justice, which are evocative of London's St Paul's Cathedral.



Trivia

Did you know that the Italian artist, Cavalier Rodolfo Nolli worked on not only the old Supreme Court’s intricate Corinthian sculpture, columns and facings but also on the Throne Hall of the King of Siam some time during 1913?
Did you know that the Allegory of Justice symbolizes the fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption, avarice, prejudice, or favor?

Please click on the picture(s) to view the enlarged version(s)