Imperial City - ACE094.2

Statue of George V. Photograph of George V and Queen Mary in Coronation robes. Film and photographs of of 1911 Delhi Durbar. Commentary over describes the event. VO reading King’s declaration of the intention to move the Imperial capital from Calcutta to Delhi; VO quoting the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge’s description of the reception of this announcement, the purpose of which was to facilitate peaceful government in newly-partitioned Bengal. Views of Victoria Memorial and European-style buildings, including Government House (Rashtrapati Bhavan), copied from Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire, and cemetery with hybrid European-Indian designs. Details of the Victoria Memorial, an Edwardian Baroque design by Sir William Emerson, statue of Lord Curzon, opposed to the move to Delhi; commentary quotes his view of the British mission in India. Land outside Delhi, "littered with the remains of seven imperial cities", including the ruins of Tughlakabad fort. Details of Moghul (Islamic) buildings. The Red Fort. Photographs of Curzon and Hardinge, and members of the planning committee, John Brodie, George Swinton and Edwin Lutyens. Maps of India showing location of Delhi and potential sites for the new city. Photograph of Lutyens.