Moubray's Cupola
The Madras Club, 8, Adyar Club Road
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This was once the home of George Moubray, who, arriving in India in 1771 as Government Accountant, acquired 105 acres of the Adyar river bank for an annual rent of 80 pagodas. The mansion that he built was Moubray’s Gardens but became known as Moubray’s Cupola on account of the cupola on its roof, in its time an engineering marvel. The house was the first building to be built on the banks of the Adyar. A car track shaded by immense trees led to this house all the way from Mylapore. This became Moubray’s (the present TTK) Road.
Moubray left India in 1792 and the house changed hands a few times. In 1810, it was acquired by John de Monte when his firm took over Francis Latour and Co, the firm that owned the property at the time. In keeping with John de Monte’s will, the property was left in trust to the Archdiocese of Mylapore. After the 1820s, several judges of the Law Courts occupied the house. In 1890, the property was leased out to the Adyar Club by the Bishop.
The Adyar Club made several modifications to the structure, though the octagonal central hall, the cupola, the billiards room and the ballroom were left untouched and have survived intact till today.
By the late 1950s, both the Madras Club and the Adyar Club were facing difficult times and decided to merge as The Madras Club. The new entity purchased Moubray’s Cupola which continues to remain the main building of the Club. (Courtesy: KalamKriya.)
Sriram V.
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