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Residency (Lucknow)
 Location
: Lucknow
Started In
: 1780 AD
Also Known As
: Beli Gaurd
Completed In
: 1800 AD
The Residency was built in 1800 by Nawab Saadat Ali Khan for the British Resident at his court. Originally a very extensive and beautiful building, it established heavy shelling during 1857, when the First War of Indian Independence took place. The inhabitants of the Residency faced a siege of 140 days before they were rescued by British troops.
The red building is today in a dilapidated state and marks of cannon shots can be seen on almost every wall. Surrounded by shady green trees, the ruins of the Residency stand, still and quiet, in the afternoon sunshine. A dark silence engulfs the ruins and one almost expects the ghosts of the dead to suddenly materialize and flit across the rooms
What ever is left of the structure has been attracting tourist and visitors in immense number. The lush green grass and gardens around the Residency have developed as a picnic spot. In the night the structure is floodlit which adds to the beauty of this building.
The cemetery at the nearby ruined church has the graves of 2000 men, women and children, including that of Sir Henry Lawrence, 'who tried to do his duty' according to the well-known dedication on his gnarled gravestone.
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