ceylon

Queens Pavilion (Kandy) The Ulpange or the Queen’s bathing pavillion is situated partly in the waters of the Kandy Lake and the other part on land near the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This was part of the palace complex of the Last king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe and as the name implies it was used by the queens for bathing. After the British invading forces capture of the city, this was converted to a library and today this building has become a police post.

Apologies for all the notes, but there is a wealth of interesting detail which can only be seen at the Persistent URL link above using the Zoom function. The ghost lady on the chair moved twice during the presumably long exposure. The chair is also on the left and right. The clock on the wall says 11.40am, but no-one is around. Is the photo full of GHOSTS ? ! Notes about the official photographers and Ceylon Court might be of particular interest to the PhM (see history at Persistent URL).

Excellent shot...

Interesting observations beachcomberaustralia. Could the photo perhaps have been taken at 11:40 pm? I didn't see anything to indicate am or pm on the clock. Alternatively, perhaps a Sunday morning? Was the exhibition open on Sundays?

@ Don Shearman - I guessed it was AM from the amount of daylight coming in from the clerestory windows at top left. I have no idea (yet) whether the Exhibition was open on Sundays. The more I think about it, it does seem odd that none of these interior shots by the official photographers Richards & Co. have any people standing proudly by their products. Very formal, or slightly spooky!

Another odd thing - I can't see any evidence of gas or electric lighting. I know they used electric arc lamps for the first time in the race to build the Garden Palace. It looks as if daylight was the only source.

When were these taken?

According to our catalogue, the photographs from this set were taken between 1870 and 1871.

The National Archives UK thanx