George Drumgoole Coleman
Encyclopedia
George Drumgoole Coleman (1795–1844), also known as George Drumgold Coleman, was an Irish
civil
architect
who played an instrumental role in the design and construction of much of the civil infrastructure
in Singapore
, after the island was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.
Born in Drogheda County Louth
, Ireland
, son of James Coleman, a merchant, part of whose business was dealing in building materials. Coleman was trained as a civil architect.
In 1815 at the age of nineteen, he left Ireland for Calcutta, India
, where he set up as an architect designing private houses for merchants. In 1819, he was invited, through his his patron John Palmer, to build two churches in Batavia. The churches were never built, but Coleman spent two years working in Java.
Coleman then obtained an introduction to Sir Stamford Raffles
from John Palmer in Calcutta, and travelled to Singapore, arriving in June 1822. Raffles was away in Sumatra at the time, but Coleman set about designing a residency house for him. On his return, Raffles approved the house, which was begun in November of the same year (it was built of timber, with a thatched roof), and commissioned Coleman to design a garrison church. The church was not built, and, in June 1823, Coleman left for Java where he spent he next two and a half years, returning to Singapore in 1825.
Coleman was responsible, as advisor to Raffles, for the draft layout of Singapore in 1822. He planned the centre of the town, created road
s, and constructed many fine buildings.
On his return to Singapore in 1825, he designed a large Palladian
house for David Skene Napier, and a palatial building for the merchant John Argyle Maxwell, which before completion was leased to the government for use as a court house and government offices. Much altered and enlarged it eventually formed part of the Parliament House of the Republic of Singapore
. It was again in the Palladian manner, adapted to the tropical climate by incorporating a veranda and overhanging eaves to provide shade. An outstanding example of his work, which survives to this day, is the Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator
on Hill Street
, built in 1835. He also built the first Anglican church in Singapore, St Andrew's, begun in 1835, but this was demolished in the 1850s, having become unsafe due to lightning strikes.
In 1833, Coleman was appointed the Superintendent
of Public Works
. He was also the surveyor and overseer of convict
labour
. Coleman's house on Number 3 Coleman Street was demolished in December 1965 to make way for the current 21-storey Peninsula Hotel.
Coleman had earlier lease
d his house to Monsieur Dutronqouy in 1831, before his departure to England
after 15 years of continuous work and 25 years in the East. While in Ireland on this trip he married Maria Frances Vernon, of Clontarf Castle
, Dublin. On Coleman's unexpected return to Singapore with his bride in November 1843 as he could not settle down in Europe
, he took possession of another house of his nearby, standing at 1 and 2 Coleman Street. It was there that he died in 1844, at the age of 49. He was buried in a cemetery
at the foot of Bukit Larangan
, now Fort Canning Hill. The impressive memorial
over his mortal remains still stands at Fort Canning Park
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
civil
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who played an instrumental role in the design and construction of much of the civil infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, after the island was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.
Born in Drogheda County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, son of James Coleman, a merchant, part of whose business was dealing in building materials. Coleman was trained as a civil architect.
In 1815 at the age of nineteen, he left Ireland for Calcutta, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he set up as an architect designing private houses for merchants. In 1819, he was invited, through his his patron John Palmer, to build two churches in Batavia. The churches were never built, but Coleman spent two years working in Java.
Coleman then obtained an introduction to Sir Stamford Raffles
Stamford Raffles
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS was a British statesman, best known for his founding of the city of Singapore . He is often described as the "Father of Singapore"...
from John Palmer in Calcutta, and travelled to Singapore, arriving in June 1822. Raffles was away in Sumatra at the time, but Coleman set about designing a residency house for him. On his return, Raffles approved the house, which was begun in November of the same year (it was built of timber, with a thatched roof), and commissioned Coleman to design a garrison church. The church was not built, and, in June 1823, Coleman left for Java where he spent he next two and a half years, returning to Singapore in 1825.
Coleman was responsible, as advisor to Raffles, for the draft layout of Singapore in 1822. He planned the centre of the town, created road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s, and constructed many fine buildings.
On his return to Singapore in 1825, he designed a large Palladian
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
house for David Skene Napier, and a palatial building for the merchant John Argyle Maxwell, which before completion was leased to the government for use as a court house and government offices. Much altered and enlarged it eventually formed part of the Parliament House of the Republic of Singapore
Old Parliament House, Singapore
The Old Parliament House, now known as the Arts House at the Old Parliament, is a building in Singapore. It is currently a multi-disciplinary arts venue which plays host to art exhibitions and concerts. The building was formerly home to the Parliament of Singapore from 1965 to 1999, when it moved...
. It was again in the Palladian manner, adapted to the tropical climate by incorporating a veranda and overhanging eaves to provide shade. An outstanding example of his work, which survives to this day, is the Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Church, Singapore
The Armenian Church is the oldest Christian church in Singapore, located at Hill Street in the Museum Planning Area, within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.-History:George Drumgoole Coleman, overseer of Convicts and Superintendent of Public Works, was the architect of many of...
on Hill Street
Hill Street
Hill Street is a street in the downtown of Singapore starting from Eu Tong Sen Street and ending at Stamford Road, where the road becomes Victoria Street...
, built in 1835. He also built the first Anglican church in Singapore, St Andrew's, begun in 1835, but this was demolished in the 1850s, having become unsafe due to lightning strikes.
In 1833, Coleman was appointed the Superintendent
Superintendent (construction)
On larger projects, it is common for most finance-related tasks and long-term scheduling to be handled by a project manager, with the superintendent's job limited to running the day-to-day operations on the construction site and controlling the short-term schedule...
of Public Works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
. He was also the surveyor and overseer of convict
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
labour
Unfree labour
Unfree labour includes all forms of slavery as well as all other related institutions .-Payment for unfree labour:If payment occurs, it may be in one or more of the following forms:...
. Coleman's house on Number 3 Coleman Street was demolished in December 1965 to make way for the current 21-storey Peninsula Hotel.
Coleman had earlier lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
d his house to Monsieur Dutronqouy in 1831, before his departure to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
after 15 years of continuous work and 25 years in the East. While in Ireland on this trip he married Maria Frances Vernon, of Clontarf Castle
Clontarf Castle
Clontarf Castle is a much-modernised castle, dating to 1837, in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland, an area famous as a key location of the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. There has been a castle on the site since 1172...
, Dublin. On Coleman's unexpected return to Singapore with his bride in November 1843 as he could not settle down in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, he took possession of another house of his nearby, standing at 1 and 2 Coleman Street. It was there that he died in 1844, at the age of 49. He was buried in a cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
at the foot of Bukit Larangan
Fort Canning
Fort Canning is a small hill slightly more than 60 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore, within the Central Area that forms Singapore's central business district...
, now Fort Canning Hill. The impressive memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
over his mortal remains still stands at Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning
Fort Canning is a small hill slightly more than 60 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore, within the Central Area that forms Singapore's central business district...
.
Legacy
George Drumgoole Coleman's name lives on in the following entities in Singapore:- Coleman Street
- Coleman BridgeColeman Bridge, SingaporeColeman Bridge is a vehicular bridge in Singapore. The bridge links Hill Street and New Bridge Road, spanning the Singapore River near Clarke Quay...
- Coleman Place