History
The area where it was located, between Mozang Road and Begum Road, was once known as Shutarkhana. [1] This name originated from the camel lines that were situated there when Anarkali served as the cantonment. [1] The house itself, along with another adjoining it, was originally owned by William Kirke. [1] Near the junction of Lytton and Edwardes Roads stood an old, neglected bungalow known as Bleak House. [1] Eventually, Shahdi Lal's residence was built on the site of Bleak House. [1]
Kirkie’s property later came into the possession of the Raja of Faridkot. Faridkot was a princely state in India, and its ruler was entitled to a salute of eleven guns. [2]
When the fifth annual conference of Indian Mohammedan Ladies was held in Lahore from 3 to 5 March 1918, the Raja of Faridkot placed Faridkot House at the disposal of the delegates for a week. [3] The conference was organized under the charge of Mrs. Mian Muhammad Shafi and Mrs. Mian Shah Din. [3] Some of the 400 ladies who came from Aligarh, Allahabad, Amritsar, Bulandshahr, Delhi, Jammu, Lahore, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Meerut, Rawalpindi, and Sialkot to attend the conference were accommodated here. [3]
Following the Partition of India in 1947, the building was taken over by the Evacuee Property Board and repurposed by the Settlement Department. [4] It housed the Property Claims Office where individuals displaced by partition filed claims for their lost properties. [4] Over time, the building deteriorated due to overuse, neglect, and vandalism, and was eventually demolished. [4]
There is also a Faridkot House in Delhi, India. [5] [6]
Architecture
Faridkot House was constructed using British bricks and featured an architectural blend of Mughal and Western styles. [4] The entrance was marked by a tall, multi-foiled arch surmounted by a half-dome, with crenellations along the parapet. [4] Stucco rosettes adorned the spandrels of the arch. [4] The estate was surrounded by extensive gardens featuring date palms and trees imported from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika, as well as banyan and peepal trees, believed to be centuries old. [4] It included quarters for servants, kitchens, garages for carriages, stables for horses, tube wells, and electric poles. [4] The interiors were furnished with carpets, curtains, chandeliers, and other fittings. [4] The residence featured verandahs with ventilators for air and light, cast-iron circular staircases, waterspouts, and chimneys for the fireplaces. [4]
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