The Grange, Yercaud Hill Station - Robert Clive used it as his summer retreat!!

Robert Clive stayed here.The grange. timesofindia.indiatimes.com

The grange. tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com

Yercaud. Hill stn. Tamiol Nadu. India Unexplored - Lonely Plane

 The Grange is one of the oldest buildings in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, a hill station first discovered by the then Governor of Madras Presidency, Thomas Munro (1829-1836). Later, it was developed into a summer hill station and a center of coffee plantations by the then Salem District Collector M.D. Cockburn. His contribution to the development of Yercaud and its economy is vast and his tomb is here in Kotagiri. 

Yercaud Hill station. MADURA TOURS AND TRAVELS

 The Grange was built in 1820s by Cockburn for the purpose of staying there on his visits to this place. He was the one  who first introduced coffee from Arabia and apples and other fruits from South Africa between 1820 and 1829. He brought to light the full potential of Yercaud and the utility of wooded areas around it. With his encouragement, subsequently many coffee and tea planters moved into Yercaud from the plains. It is  quite interesting to note that Robert Clive, the man who laid the basic foundation of the British Empire

Robert Clive of East India Co.1725-1774, Age Fotostock

Above image:  Robert Clive,1st Baron Clive of Plassey, (born September 29, 1725, Styche, Shropshire, England—died November 22, 1774, London), soldier and first British administrator of Bengal, who was one of the creators of British power in India. In his first governorship (1755–60) he won the Battle of Plassey and became master of Bengal. In his second governorship (1764–67) he reorganized the British colony. He began his career in Madras at St. George Fort and there in the church he married Margaret Maskelyne. In 1756 under his  under command and subsequent wars much of Bengal fell into the hands to the British. .............

and who began his career as an ordinary clerk in the East India Company office in Madras (now Chennai) is said to have used this place  as his  summer resort during his younger age. Later he was destined to become the most effective Gov. General of India under the EIC,  In the late 19th century the celler in the building was used as repository. Today, the castle-like structure is part of the privately-run Grange Resorts.

Yercaud hil, station. Tour My India

During the tumultious period of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, at the Grange, serious efforts were made to strengthen the roof, besides the ramparts were built with provisions to mountain Guns  and 3 Canons were mounted at vantage points to face any emergency situation. The Sepoy mutiny that started out at Meerut cantomment (now in Madhya pradesh) was mostly confined to northern states. In addition, a large cellar was made to hold provisions for about 6 months in case there was a long siege and the Europeans of the Area had to hold off rebels.
But this never happened  in the south as many kingdoms were victims of East India Company's unethical acts and diabolism. As for the south, it was quite peaceful and no untoward incident took place.  There is a well planned and maintained  Resort alongside the Grange, set amidst coffee & Orange plantations and Silver Oak Trees, providing a serene atmosphere to let ourselves loosen from stressed urban life and madness. 

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