Old Hong Kong in the UK

Here's a summary of my recent visit to the UK, listing some resources for anyone interested in old Hong Kong.

UK National Archive

A few interesting finds from this visit:

1850 Green Bank plans & map. UKNA ref: MPG 1/158 

This map shows the area we call Lan Kwai Fong today, but look how different it was in 1850 ...

Top-left we have a Cow House and a Poultry House, no doubt suppying fresh milk and eggs to the residents. Lower down the hill is a bungalow, and Green Bank, the main residential building. On the slopes below the buildings there is a Flower Garden and a Kitchen Garden, then right at the bottom of the site are the stables.

Something to try and imagine next time you're in that area.

1943-44 Stanley Camp info from Gripsholm repatriates. UKNA ref: CO 980/120

This is a government file gathering the information about Stanley Camp received from the Canadian internees who were repatriated in 1943. Elizabeth Ride has previously posted the main report from this folder (http://gwulo.com/node/28984), but there is still more information to be found from the other paperwork. eg one letter is from Canadian nurse May Watus, writing to a Mr. Thomson about his daughter Kathleen. May was with Kathleen "at Bowen Rd and Stanley Internment Camp." She continues:

Kathleen and Peter are thin but both fairly well. Everyone is lacking in energy but I must say your two keep themselves fairly busy. Believe Peter is teaching as well as the other duties there are to do, depending on what squad you are in, rations, wood cutting etc. Kathleen always seems to be busy too. If not studying she's looking after someone's child. "Aunty Kate" is quite a favourite.

Thanks to Elizabeth for the lead to this file.

1903 Ty Tam reservoir expansion. UKNA ref: MPGG 1/77/1

Look how big the reservoir was originally planned to be!

The dam we see today is roughly where the top line is, 'alternative site No. 3' on the map. If they had chosen the original site No. 1 instead (the bottom line), the dam would have included a large section of Tytam Bay, and held a much larger volume of water.

There are always interesting surprises waiting to be found at the UK National Archives. I usually head straight to the archive from Heathrow. Most flights from Hong Kong arrive at London early in the morning, so if I catch the tube I get to the archive as it opens, and can leave my suitcase in their locker room. I highly recommend a visit.

Charing Cross Collectors Fair

This is held every Saturday. Most of the stalls sell stamps and coins, but as entry is free it's worth calling in to see if there is anything of interest. This time I was lucky to find a couple of old photo postcards showing the area around Statue Square:

More information: http://charingxcollectorsfair.moonfruit.com/#

Friends of the RASHKB

I visited the Friends to present my latest illustrated talk, using photos that show Victoria harbour to tell a selection of stories. There was a good audience, with many interesting questions afterwards.

If you're interested in old Hong Kong and you live in the UK, it's well worth contacting the Friends. They arrange several talks each year, and get together for lunch before each talk. As their name suggests, they're a friendly bunch!

More information: http://gwulo.com/node/30935

Lunch with Gwulo regulars

Thanks to Mike for arranging, and to everyone who made the trip into London to join us.

(Should we be called the Friends of Gwulo, FOGs?)

Barbara Anslow

Thanks to Barbara and her family for welcoming me to visit. I've recorded another interview with Barbara, this time chatting about her childhood memories of living in Hong Kong in the 1920s. Bear with me while I learn how to use the editing software again, but it'll definitely appear sooner rather than later.

Barbara also showed me some interesting memorabilia and additional diary extracts, which I'm looking forward to sharing here.

 

University of Bristol

Thank you to Professor Robert Bickers for giving me the chance to talk about some of the lessons learned from running Gwulo. The audience was a group of his colleagues and students, incuding several people working on the Historical Photos of China (http://hpc.vcea.net/) and the Visualising China (http://visualisingchina.net/) projects. They're both excellent sources for old photos of Hong Kong.

It's the first time I've had the chance to exchange ideas with a group that is working on projects similar to Gwulo, so it was a very valuable opportunity for me.

Other recommendations if you're visiting London:

Accommodation - I've stayed in Hammersmith for the last few years, as it's got good tube & bus connections to Heathrow, Kew (for the UKNA), the main rail stations, and central London. I stay at the Temple Lodge Club B&B, which is simple but comfortable, and has a lovely garden to enjoy when the weather's warm. http://www.templelodgeclub.com/

Curry - Chutney's vegetarian lunch buffet, costs less than seven pounds and very tasty. http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/chutneys-1

Walks - Ok it's a busman's holiday, but I really enjoy the walks organised by London Walks. Good guides, a wide selection of walks each day, no need to book, and they tell the quirky tales I enjoy hearing. http://www.walks.com/