The Trevelyan Memorial Fountain, standing on the grounds of the Victoria Public Hall is a monument commemorating the contributions of Sir Charles Trevelyan, former Governor of Madras. The location is but appropriate, for he was the one responsible for the creation of the People’s Park, a vast lung of green for the city during his gubernatorial tenure, on which later came up the Central Station, the Victoria Public Hall, the Moore Market and the Ripon Buildings. However, it had for long been a mystery as to when it was put up, for there is no date on the memorial.
Recently, we unearthed a news report in the Pioneer, published from Allahabad, which gives some indication as to when it was probably put up. In its edition dated February 4, 1890, it carried a letter from Lady Trevelyan to the President of the Madras Municipality, where she stated thus: “I am anxious to express to you and the Municipal Commissioners of t
he city of Madras how much gratified I have been by the erection of the Trevelyan memorial fountain in the People’s Park in memory of my late husband. The description of it, showing that though years have passed, his work at Madras is fondly remembered, has touched me deeply. I shall be obliged if you would convey my best thanks to the kind donors”. This would date the memorial most probably to late 1889.
The memorial which is made of dressed Pallavaram granite with white and red marble pillars at each angle over which an ornamental capital of Pallavaram granite rests, stood on the south side of the Victoria Public Hall, facing the Poonamallee High Road, until the Metro Rail started work. It was then moved and placed facing the Central Station, where it stands today, impressively restored, welcoming visitors as they enter the lobby of the main building.