45.
However, the location of "East Point" is known, and when we come to Dent and Co.'s property, there are old leasehold plans which give us the exact location of "Green Bank," and also of Dent's offices. In the Land Office records, we find a sale plan of October 1846, which shows Dent and Company owning a building on the north of Queen's Road, adjoining the seafront, the site of which is now occupied by Long Hing, the photographic dealer, and adjoining shops; while immediately across Queen's Road, on part of the site occupied now by the American-Asiatic Underwriters building (which up to recently housed the Industrial and Commercial Bank), just below the Masonic Hall, is a house belonging to Dent and Co., which obviously comprised "Green Bank." The old plan shows this dwelling to have been situated on a rise (since partly levelled) which was bordered by a small ravine on the west (now Zetland Street), and a dip, through which flowed a small stream, on the east (now Duddell Street). The ravine divided "Green Bank" from a higher rise (Pedder's Hill) on which the Harbour Master had his residence and offices, and across which On Lan Street now runs.
Fortune refers to the ravine, and paints a delightful word picture of the garden made by the lessees of the property, Messrs. Dent and Braine, both of whose names appear in the old land register, so we can imagine the "good old days" when the heads of Dent and Company could stroll a few yards from their garden-enclosed house to their offices across the road, and then back again; an ideal which urban development has done away with.
It is interesting, with this additional information at our disposal, to look again at Bruce's picture of Queen's Road looking from Murray Battery (the rise above Battery Path), so I reproduce his drawing again, and will point out the principal features of the period (1846).
Taking the left-hand side of the street first, we have the upper portion of the original Ice House behind the brow of the hillock (the site, now, of the National City Bank). To the left of that, a little distance away, is "Green Bank," its fine tree-set garden being well shown. Higher up and further away is the adjoining rising ground, Pedder's Hill, with the first Harbour Office and Lieut. Pedder's residence. At the corner of Wyndham Street, coming down to the Queen's Road level, is the old Hongkong Club building.
Returning to the point of view, on the right-hand side, we find it possible to identify several of the buildings from the old sale plans. In the right-hand bottom corner is an old boatshed, probably used then also as a storehouse. Adjoining that, at right angles to the waterfront, is another storehouse, probably a coalshed, taking the place of an earlier coal store, which a plan of 1841 shows to have been on the Ice House site.
Immediately beyond that again is seen Dent and Company's office property, and a roofed-over pier, which was the firm's private jetty, shown in several plans as "Dent's pier". This property is now occupied approximately by Exchange Building on one side and Long Hing's and other shops on the Queen's Road frontage.
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45.
However, the location of "East Point" is known, and when we come to Dent and Co.'s property, there are old leasehold plans which give us the exact location of "Green Bank," and also of Dent's offices. In the land Office records we find a sale plan of October 1846, whá ch shows Dent and Company owing a building on the north of Queen's Road, adjoining the seafront, the site or which is now occupied by Long ling, the photographic dealer and adjoining shops; while immediately across/Queen's Road, on part of the site occupied now by the American- Asiatic Underwriters building (which up to recently housed the Industrial and Commercial Bank), just below the flaso- nic Hall, is a house belonging to Dent and Co. which obviously comprised "Green Bank." The old plan shows this dwelling to have been situated on a rise (since partly levelled) which was bordered by a small revine on the west (now Zetland Street), and a dip, through which flowed a small stream, on the east (now Duddell Street). The ravine divided "Green Bank" from a higher rise (Pedder's Hill) on which the Harbour Master had his residence and offices, and across which On Lan Street now runs.
across
Me
Fortune refers to the ravine, and paints a delightful word picture of the garden made by the leases of the property Messrs. Dent and Braine, both of whose names appear in old land register so we can imagine the "good old day." when the heads of Dent and Company could stroll a few yards from their garden-enclosed house to their offices across the road, and then back again; an ideal which urban development has done away with.
It is interesting, with this additional information at our disposal, to look again at Bruce's picture of Queen's Road looking from Murray Battery (the rise above Battery Path), so I reproduce his drawing again, and will point out the principal features of the period (1846).
Taking the left-hand side of the street first, we have the upper portion of the original Ice House behind the tow of the original Ice House behind the brow of the hillock (the site, now, of the National City Bank). To the left of that, a little distance away, is "Green Bank," its fine treeset går- den being well shown. Higher up and further away is the adjoining rising ground, Pedder's Hill, with the first Harbour Office and Lieut. Pedder's residence. At the corner of Wyndham Street, coming down to the queen's Road level, is the old Hongkong Club building.
Returning to the point of view, on the right-hand side we find it possible to identify several of the buildings from the old sale plans. In the right-hand botton corner is an old boatshed, probably used then also as a storehouse. Adjoining that, at right angles to the waterfront, is another storehouse, probably a coalshed taking the place of all earlier coal store which a plan of 1841 shows to have been on the Ice House site.
Immediately beyond that again is seen Dent and Compey's office property, and a roofed-gver pier, which was the iri's private jetty shown in several plans as "Dent's pier". This property is now occupied approximately by Exchange Building on one side and Long Hing's and other shops on the Queen's Road frontage.
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