How Loane's Square park in Broadway Chennai got its name?

Section of the Park named after Potti Sri Ramulu, Mayor Chennai Corporation

Loane's Square Park shown in Green Rectangle

Have you ever wondered how the park at the junction between Broadway and Audiappa Naicken Street got its name as 'Loane's Square Park?' There an interesting story behind this park and in naming too.
Popham's Broadway  (named after British politician and solicitor Stephen Popham who was determined to improve the sanitation in the late 18th century), later simply known as Broadway, is the historical thoroughfare of the George Town developed by Colonial Madras Local Administrators. The arterial road running along north to south divides George Town exactly two divisions i.e,  Peddanaickenpet and Muthialpet. Only fewer people will able recognize Popham's Broadway.

During early 18th century there was a growing population and commercial activities in George Town. The need for a market with separate points for vegetables, meat and fish was demanded by public. The Colonial administration chose a vacant site at the junction between  the Broadway and (present) Audiappa Naicken Street in George Town and the land was owned by  Stephen Popham. The market place was constructed and thrown open to public in 1780s. The market place was also named as 'Popham's Market.' The market at Broadway survived for over a century. The market also showed signs of wear and tear and the authorities condemned the site as unsanitary.

There was congestion in Black Town, resulting in dispersion of some of the population to neighbouring areas. The site within people's park near Central Railway station was earmarked for the new market. Soon Col. Sir George Montgomerie John Moore, then President of the Madras Corporation laid the foundation stone for Moore Market in 1898. Designed by RE Ellis in the Indo-Saracenic style in a series of quadrangles enclosing shops, it was constructed by A Subramania Iyer. The market, opened in 1900, was considered as the modern with facilities for vegetables, flowers and meat and the same venue was known for  curios including antiques, art, books and pets.

Popham's market was demolished and the site was converted into a park. The Park was named as 'Loane's Square Park' after Samuel Joshua Loane's, Engineer of the Madras Corporation who was responsible for constructing Moore Market.  Now Loane's Square Park is rechristened  as Sriramulu Naidu Park, named after Potti Sri Ramulu Naidu, former Mayor of Chennai Corporation.

Popham’s was demolished, making way for a park – Loane’s Park, named after Samuel Joshua Loane, Engineer of the Madras Corporation who was responsible for constructing Moore Market. It is now known as Sriramulu Naidu Park, after a former Mayor of the city.

Reference

1. Before the malls, there were the markets XS Real.com February 9, 2012
2. George Town, Chennai, Wikipedia
3. Moore, of Moore Market by V Sriram. Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music. August 17, 2012
4. Stephen Popham, Wikipedia

Dr. Annie Besant (Traffic Island) Park at Marina: Chennai Statues

Statue of Dr.Annie Besant at Dr.Annei Besant Park, Marina, Chennai 

Dr.Annie Besant Statue at Dr.Besant Road & Kamarajar Salai Junction, Marina, Chennai

Plaque of Dr.Annie Besant at Dr. Annie Besant Par, Marina, Chennai



Thematic Statue of a Boat Designed by Student of Government College of Arts and Crafts, Egmore, Chennai





The statue of Dr. Annie Besant (1847 – 1933), an Irish woman (who came to India in 1893 to serve for the cause of Indians and was also a social reformer in various spheres after having deeply inspired by the Indian religious tradition and she). is located in the Dr. Annie Besant Park (traffic island or triangular park) at junction of Dr.Besant Road and Kamarajar Salai near Ice House. Dr. Besant has played many roles in her lifetime and all of those activities were revolutionary for a woman to be doing. Besant’s name became a part of the Theosophical Society, Adyar and she spent most of her time on the betterment of society and even towards India’s freedom struggle.

A thematic statue of a boat, designed by the student of Government College of Arts and Crafts, Egmore, Chennai was installed in 2010. The Chennai Corporation has installed this thematic statue at this park as part of city’s beautification drive.

May Day Park, Chennai: An Iconic Urban Park from Colonial Times

May Day Park, Chennai - Facade

May Day Park, Chennai - Monument

May Day Park, Chennai - Granite Monument

May Day Park, Chennai - imposing fountain - an attraction

May Day Park, Chennai - Statue of Hungerford Tudor Boddam - British Judge, Madras High Court

May Day Park, Chennai - Statue of Hungerford Tudor Boddam - Plaque

The May Day Park, located at Deputy Mayor Kabalamoorthy Road in Chintadripet, originally known as Napier Park, is a good example of a park constructed during the British rule in 1869 and named after Francis Napier, the 10th Lord Napier and 1st Baron Ettrick, KT, PC, the Governor of Madras Presidency (27 March 1866 – 19 February 1872). This park has provided the innovative groundwork and value for park culture in Madras city adhering to its cultural needs. The colonial administrators realized that the development of parks is an important aspect of urbanization. Over the years the Madras Municipality (Colonial rule) and the the Chennai corporation (after independence) strived to augment the green cover in the city. Now the total number of parks have increased to 486.  Urbanization experts consider that this number is still inadequate when comparing with Delhi (15,000), Mumbai (1,300), Bangalore (721) and Hyderabad (709).

This 14 acre land, once used as stables by Messrs. Burghall and Company in Chintadripet, has been converted as an urban park. Messrs. Simpson & Co had an eye over the land for their carriage factory expansion requirements. However Madras Municipality passed a resolution on 28th January 1869 and proposed the need for developing an urban park at this site. The Government of Madras Presidency has approved the proposal and accorded finance sanction and land allotment on 15th April 1869.

This park was used to hold public meetings by political leaders like M.Singaravelar and Periyar. Several rallies and processions including the anti-Hindi agitation during 1960s were flagged off from here by eminent leaders.

At the north eastern corner of the park the statue of of Hungerford Tudor Boddam, the eminent British Judge of Madras High Court stands under the arched canopy.

The Napier Park was later renamed by the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to meet the demands from Communist Party. There is a symbolic 'May Day' monument with two gear wheels, a gun and the word 'May' sculpted in Tamil. Also there is a mound shaped water fountain.

The present park has not only have greenerys, trees and walkways but also equipped with facilities for children’s area with swings  and also space for cricket, football, volleyball and badminton on the eastern and western sides of the park. The park, maintained by Simpson & Co, has given a new meaning for public recreation spaces in Chennai city.