The Eyrie was on the left, where the new trees are planted. The road led to Mountain Lodge, and the hill, and the stunning view beyond, that inspired 1000 postcards, is all bristly with towers.
Simon from Canada, a descendent of E. R. Belilios, came to Hong Kong in September to see what he could find. He, his wife and I all went hiking up to the top of the Peak. I think we should make an outing of it, and enjoy and afternoon tea picnic right at the top.
The Eyrie site and Belvedere are fenced off, but the site of what seems to have been the Signal Station is accesable.
Comments
re: Simon from Canada
Annelise, that must have been an interesting meeting. Does Simon have any website or online information about his ancestors that we can link to?
Regards, David
He visited Gwulo in August,
He visited Gwulo in August, which is how we met. http://gwulo.com/node/4982#comment-13574
Simon and Sheila's website is www.wakingdragonink.com.
You can read what they knew, and then found out on their trip to Hong Kong and Kolcuta (formerly Calcutta) ...
The House that Opium Built
In 1862 my great grandfather, a Jewish merchant named Emanuel Raphael Belilios left Calcutta and set sail for the still new British colony of Hong Kong. Waiting for him at home in Calcutta was his wife Semah (nee Ezra).
In the cargo hold were 10 chests containing opium balls that he had purchased a month earlier at a British government auction. His intention was to sell his lading quickly, make a fortune and live comfortably for the rest of his life. Each chest was worth approximately £ 10,000 so this would have been a princely fortune.
You see, when Emanuel landed in Hong Kong, he was unable to sell his lading as quickly as he had planned.
...
Simon is not decendent of Semah's, but of ... well I should let him tell the story.
... read more
The Belilios fortune
Thanks for the link. I just read through all the posts about their trip to Hong Kong and India - very interesting. The first page you linked to ends:
So, I know what you are all thinking: if there was a fortune made from the sale of opium, if there were mansions, properties and other assets, why did Emanuel leave a paltry £ 700 upon his demise? In short, what happened to the money? Well, that’s what I’m here in Hong Kong to find out. Stay tuned...
No answer so far. I've subscribed to their blog in the hope we'll hear the answer later.
My guess is that he had
My guess is that he had already put the money in trusts.
If it is true that his Chinese "wife" continued to live at Kingsclere, then there must have been some income.
5 Broadwood Road
Sean - take a look at the story of one family who was living on Broadwood Road. (see link above)
"One of Pearl’s daughters married Mr. Choa Po-sein a young and enterprising comprador. They lived at # 5 Broadwood Road until after World War ll. My mother was born at this house."
I'm stupid
Annelisec - assume you mean the Canadian couple's link but not sure what relevance it has apart from Broadwood Road.
Enlightenment would be appreciated.
Only Broadwood Road. The
Only Broadwood Road. The story helps describe one other family who lived there i.e. from very wealthy backgrounds, families where at least one person was decended from the "Chinese compradore/European business owner" relationship.
Stupid me again
Sorry brain definitely not in gear.
I take your point. It is interesting that on Broadwood Road we now know that there were at least three such families. One was Charles and Hannah Warren in The Towers, the other was Charles and Ethel Olson - he was Hannah's half brother - in Number 13.
You may be interested in the picture of Ethel with a Chinese man which I also posted yesterday. That is taken at 13 Broadwood Road. Also the tennis picture may well be there. I think that Charles Warren also built a bungalow down from The Towers but have not pictures. Number 13 may also have been the home of my grandfather John Olson 2 as I have a postcard of Happy Valley sent in 1923 to him in London which mentions the good times they had there.
If you would like pictures of the houses for your own collection of these two houses I can send them to you if you let me know at infohklegacy@gmail.com
Thanks again.
Gwulo IS my collection :)
It has been a joy to share the things I have found with the world - and have them find it.
Your collection
I can only say thank you very much and wish you more joy.
Site of Peak Signal Station
From my site visit today, I would suggest that the Peak Signal Station should be located within the Peak Radio Station (towards the eastern most side) which is fenced off. Please check these photos as well as the aerial photo on Hong Kong Memory website: http://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/hkplaces/AllItems/images/201107/t2011...
CM