1910 Kennedy Rd at MacDonnell Rd | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

1910 Kennedy Rd at MacDonnell Rd

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1910 Kennedy Rd at MacDonnell Rd
Submitted by annelisec
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Submitted by David on Fri, 2010-01-08 17:21.

I wonder if the postcard's title is right. I think we're looking at Kennedy Road to the left, with the road to the right heading down into the barracks area. So the junction in the foreground would be about here on the map:

Submitted by annelisec on Fri, 2010-01-08 21:11.

1901 Map - Kennedy and MacDonnell Roads - Sheet 16
click here to go straight to the Government map

 

The intersection was this sharp.  The road must have been rebuilt for car traffic instead of sedan chairs

Submitted by David on Fri, 2010-01-08 22:42.

Thanks Annelise, that helps. I think the photo is of the junction shown in the top-right corner of the map, between the R and O of 'ROAD'. Pity the map doesn't show what the downward sloping road led to.

Submitted by annelisec on Fri, 2010-01-08 23:04.

I think it is the junction at the letter Y of Kennedy.  Cover the upslope road with your hand, and you will see that the other road is relatively flat, likely making it Kennedy Road.  The "down" is actually a turn to the right, as in the Map.

The large building is also on the map, on MacDonnell Rd, but no name shown, I'm afraid.

Submitted by David on Sat, 2010-01-09 10:18.

From the photo, I was looking for a junction on the map where the left-hand road:

  1. if projected ahead in a straight line would meet the large building
  2. would curve away to the left out of view

The R-O junction fits both requirements, and gets my vote.

The other clue is in the newer photo. The building with the white gables and circular opening is the style of the army's barracks buildings, confirming the left-hand road is Kennedy Road running around the edge of Victoria Barracks.

I rest my case your honour!!

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2010-01-09 10:56.

From the public records:

Macdonnell Road commenced construction in 1891 from its western junction with Garden Road. The road was 20 ft wide. Bridges were erected over the Albany Nullah and Peak Tramway. In 1899, Macdonnell Road was extended to Kennedy Road and finally completed. In that year, Tramway Path was also built to provide access to residents on both roads.

The first land sales on Macdonnell Road took place in 1896, the same year as Belilios bought Kingsclere.

Getting back to the photo, I think it can be dated to around 1900.

Here is a photo of Macdonnell Rd sloping downhill to meet up with Kennedy Road. I am dating it to the 1910s decade. The large building and Kingsclere can be seen.

1910s Mid-Levels Buildings between Macdonnell and Kennedy Roads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David, could you group the info about Kingsclere onto a single page? It would make it easier for reference. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2010-01-10 09:34.

When I looked at the 1910s photo, my first impression was that it was taken at the eastern end of Macdonnell Road where it meets up with Kennedy Road (the currrent junction). But having rotated the map, there is no line of sight projection with the large building that appears above the down sloping road.

1901 Map - Kennedy and MacDonnell Roads - Sheet 16 (Rotated View)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The section of Kennedy Rd between Garden Road and Macdonnell Rd has always followed the contour of the hill. Therefore, I do not think the sloping road on the left is Kennedy Road. Any other ideas?

 

Submitted by annelisec on Sun, 2010-01-10 17:48.

Perhaps we must go forward - the building on the 1901 map may not be the one in the postcard.

I have a 1922 map by the PWD that I unearthed at the Lands Department in North Point (Quarry Bay MTR station exit) but I asked for one quadrant and it does not show this view.

When was Barker Rd built ?  I think I see some houses below the ridgeline.

Also, if we can identify the house in the second postcard with the distinctive round tower on one side, then we can do the line-of-sight check.

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2010-01-10 18:03.

Barker Road from Plantation Rd to Magazine Gap was completed in 1898. Before the completion of the road, three large building sites had been sold  with one site in an advanced state of construction.

Submitted by David on Wed, 2010-01-13 22:00.

Moddsey, I did a quick search for 'kingsclere', and most of the info is on the page for the Kingsclere Place. What extra info would be good to have there?