Skinner’s haveli lost in hovels

The palatial estate of the man who built Delhi's oldest church, St James' at Kashmere Gate, is now lost in a cluster of old shops, a junkyard and massive unauthorized construction over the original facade.

City historians say the estate of Anglo-Indian military officer Colonel James Skinner covered almost five acres and had, besides the main building, several ancillary buildings and servant quarters. But now it is a warren of shops and godowns. Long civic neglect has weakened the old buildings, making them prone to the kind of structural collapse that left two dead on Tuesday.

After Skinner's death, the estate remained with his descendants for close to a century. Its commercialization started when they vacated it after Independence. "Like the hundreds of other old havelis, the original estate was divided and sub-divided. New constructions cropped up and now only traces of the original architecture can be seen. There is little in the haveli today to suggest that it is a nearly 200-year-old structure with such strong historical ties. Its original character has been completely destroyed,'' said an expert.

The premises have been graded 'B' in architectural value by conservation body Intach's Delhi chapter. "New additions, modifications and sub-divisions make it difficult to imagine the original character of the building,'' the listing states.

James Skinner settled at the northern edge of Shahjahanabad in the early 1800s, says Ratish Nanda, conservation architect and project director of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. "His estate was vast and structures from the municipal compound opposite St James' Church to others almost 500 metres away originally stood in it. It's a pity that lack of controls and incentives has led to largescale loss and destruction.''

A cusp-arched gateway is one of the haveli's few remnants. While its roof collapsed years ago, the original doors are intact. Beyond the gateway lies a large courtyard which once had a marble platform with a water chute below it. The marble courtyard has been destroyed and the open space holds a pile of junk including construction material, old bicycles, broken furniture etc.

On either side of the courtyard, shops dealing in automobile parts rise to three storeys. Towards the back of the estate, a narrow entrance leads to clusters of shops and rooms built over the years. The building that collapsed on Tuesday stood here.

The haveli's heritage value has not escaped the notice of the civic agencies. It is mentioned in the municipal heritage list and no alterations or new constructions are allowed without the civic agency's approval.

Locals say the status is confined to paper. "It's recognized as Skinner's house but how many know who Skinner was or what his contribution is to Delhi's history?'' said Vipin Malik, who lives nearby. Intach historian Swapna Liddle said James Skinner's estate is important because of his contribution to Delhi's history. "It is a listed heritage building and has to be protected. Buildings are listed for architectural or historical reasons and there has to be some mechanism in place to preserve them,'' she said.

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