View source for Mountain Lodge

{{short description|Hong Kong Governor summer residence}}
{{About||mountain shelters in general|mountain hut|the racehorse|Mountain Lodge (horse)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
[[File:CO 1069-473-03 (cropped).jpg|right|thumb|300px|Historical image of the second Mountain Lodge.]]
{{Chinese
| t = 香港總督山頂別墅
| y = Hēung góng júng dūk sāan déng biht séuih
| j = Hoeng1 gong2 zung2 duk1 saan1 deng2 bit6 soei5
}}
[[File:Peaksummerresidence.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Historical image of the second Mountain Lodge, with the [[Gate Lodge]] in the foreground.]]

'''Mountain Lodge''' was the former summer residence of the [[Governor of Hong Kong]] on [[Victoria Peak]] on the [[Hong Kong Island]] in [[Hong Kong]]. The second building was a two-storey [[Renaissance]] style home and was demolished in 1946. The site is now the [[Victoria Peak Garden]], a public park. The [[Gate Lodge]], which originally served as living quarters for the keeper of Mountain Lodge, is still extant.
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==History as a sanatorium==
A military sanatorium was proposed and established by [[Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead|Governor Hercules Robinson]] (1859–1865).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_annexb_e.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612095345/http://amo.gov.hk/form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_annexb_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> A path was cut in December 1859 from what is now [[Robinson Road, Hong Kong|Robinson Road]] to the top of Victoria Peak, and the sanatorium was opened in the spring of 1862. It was well-built on the plateau below the flag-staff and 17 patients were sent there. However, the patients, like those in the rest of Hong Kong that year, did not improve and the military abandoned the site.

The site was then used for picnics until 1867<ref>Hong Kong: Somewhere between Heaven and Earth – letters of Matilda and Lucilla Sharp</ref>

[[Granville and Matilda Sharp]] (after whom [[Matilda International Hospital|Matilda Hospital]] is named) who had long advocated the Peak as a healthy alternative to the lower levels, took a lease of the deserted sanatorium.

==The first Mountain Lodge (1867–1897)==
[[Richard Graves MacDonnell|Governor MacDonnell]] (1866–1872), in 1867, purchased the building from the War Department and transformed it into the first Mountain Lodge—a bungalow to be built for the Governor's use.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/europeinchinahis00eiteuoft/europeinchinahis00eiteuoft_djvu.txt Europe in China – by Eitel]</ref> He had noted that the temperature was 14&nbsp;°F (7.8&nbsp;°C) less than [[Central, Hong Kong|Central District]] in the summer.<ref>[http://www.citylifehk.com/citylife/eng/history_1108.jsp CityLife article by Arthur Hacker – A Cut Above] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106015655/http://www.citylifehk.com/citylife/eng/history_1108.jsp |date=6 January 2009 }}</ref>

There were three main buildings at the first Mountain Lodge. The Lodge itself, faced toward [[Pok Fu Lam]] on one side, and the lawn on the other. Two smaller buildings, rather like large European-style cabins, and faced the lawn with their backs to the hillside. However, the lodge was severely damaged by a typhoon in the next year.<ref>Bard, Solomon Matthews 2002 ''Voices from the Past: Hong Kong, 1842–1918''. University of Washington Press.</ref>

In 1873, [[Arthur Kennedy (colonial administrator)|Governor Kennedy]] (1872–1877) ordered to refurbish and extend the lodge, but it was again destroyed by a typhoon in 1874.

[[James Russell (Hong Kong judge)|James Russell]], [[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong|Chief Justice of the Hong Kong supreme court]], applied for a lease on the property in 1875, but it was not granted.

[[John Pope Hennessy|Governor Hennessy]] (1877–1882) engaged in an umbrella fight with a judge at Mountain Lodge, and lost. Photos of two of three buildings on the site are at this reference.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222164510/http://www.citylifehk.com/citylife/eng/history_0608.jsp CityLife article by Arthur Hacker – The eccentric Governor of Hong Kong, Sir John Pope Hennessy]</ref>

Sir [[William Henry Marsh|William H. Marsh]] was Colonial Secretary and then the acting Governor, from 1879–1886.<ref>[China Mail 1879–1886]</ref> His wife, Mrs. Marsh advertised "at homes" at Mountain Lodge.

In 1892, another typhoon did some damage. You can see photos of both the first and second incarnations of Mountain Lodge at this reference.<ref name=":0">[https://books.google.com/books?id=KFR863wtSykC&dq=blake+mountain+lodge+hong+kong&pg=PA112 Voices from the past: Hong Kong, 1842–1918 by Solomon Bard ]</ref>

In 1892, Governor Robinson (1891–1898) designated the Director of Public Works, [[Francis Cooper]], to restore the lodge. But due to the deteriorating condition of the lodge, the restoration scheme was given up and the lodge was demolished in 1898.<ref name=":0" />

In 1892, the Gate Lodge was built is in Renaissance style. However, when Sir [[Henry Arthur Blake]] became governor, he did not like the proposals.

==The second Mountain Lodge (1900–1946)==
[[Image:Victoria Peak Garden Pavilion 2016.jpg|thumb|Pavilion built on the site of the former Mountain Lodge – 2016 photograph]]
[[File:Gate Lodge (Hong Kong).jpg|thumb|The [[Gate Lodge]] in 2011.]]
Instead, he appointed [[P&T Group|Palmer & Turner]] for another design. This second design was constructed in the [[Renaissance]] style of Scottish lodges and built between 1900 and 1902. The building was described by the media as the most imposing and handsome architecture on the Peak.

Governor Sir [[Francis Henry May]] and Lady May used it extensively and there are several photos of their family showing everyday life at Mountain Lodge 1910–1920.<ref>[http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/srch/english/search_fields.jsp?p1=mountain+lodge&p2=&T_CoveringYears_Fr=&T_CoveringYears_To=&INTYP=ALL&I2.x=0&I2.y=0&a=10&srchscreen=sys_all&skd=fields&cp=database&om=0&f=0&l=0&f1=fulltext&f2=TITLES&f3=SUBJECTS&s=HKPRO_Library_web&version=INTERNET&op1=%26&op2=%26&op3=%26&op4=%26&op5=%26&op6=%26&fop1=%3D&fop2=%3D&fop3=%3D&fop4=%3D&fop5=%3D&fop6=%3D&o=RIDs&page=1 A collection of photos at the Hong Kong Public Records Office]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Thomas Southorn]] also lived there with his wife, including during 1925–1936.<ref name=SCMP>Out and about – Bella Southorn's stories reflect the life she loved as the wife of a colonial civil servant, [[South China Morning Post|SCMP]] Post Magazine, Jason Wordie, 24 Apr 2011</ref>

Notes on the Photo: The lawn in front of the mansion is now the car park for the [[Victoria Peak Garden]] public park. The lawn on the lower left was the site of the first Mountain Lodge.

Sir [[Cecil Clementi]] had it refurnished for his use in 1925, and included a small safe.<ref>[http://www.legco.gov.hk/1926/h260308.pdf Legco Report, 8 March 1926].</ref>

In 1932, it was proposed that the Governor have [[Fanling Lodge|a house in Fanling]], and plans were then made to abandon Mountain Lodge.<ref>[http://www.legco.gov.hk/1932/h321006.pdf Legco Report, 6 Oct 1932]</ref> In 1938, it was proposed that both [[Government House, Hong Kong|Government House]] and Mountain Lodge be abandoned, and a single home built at Magazine Gap.

The Second World War intervened.

The building, sometimes referred to as '''Former Mountain Lodge''', no longer exists as it was demolished in 1946.<ref>[http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/part2_study_report.pdf "Part 2 - Study Report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614042038/http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/part2_study_report.pdf |date=14 June 2018 }}. ''Interpretation Study On The Site Of Former Mountain Lodge And Its Surrounding Areas''. The Oval Partnership for [[Leisure and Cultural Services Department]] (December 2011)</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=12 March 2018|title=Gate Lodge of the Former Mountain Lodge, the Peak|publisher=[[Antiquities and Monuments Office]]|url=http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_52.php|website=www.amo.gov.hk|archive-date=31 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031164848/http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_52.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Gate Lodge]] and the granite foundations remain, however.

===2007 archaeological discovery===
During the Peak improvement project in January 2007, pieces of wall, roof tiles and several in situ granite steps beneath the ground were found on the former Mountain Lodge site during pre-construction checks. They have been confirmed to be the original tiles and steps of the second Mountain Lodge. A report with photos showing the original tiles and steps is available online.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_annexb-c_e.pdf |title=2007 Peak archaeological survey Photos |access-date=8 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010122122/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_annexb-c_e.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_e.pdf 2007 Peak archaeological survey Text] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171931/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_e.pdf |date=12 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument//form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_annexb-d_e.pdf |title=Photos and floorplan |access-date=10 April 2009 |archive-date=28 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828014612/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB_Paper133_mountain_lodge_annexb-d_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Victoria Peak Garden (1969–present)==
[[File:Victoria Peak Garden Lawn Plants 201607.jpg|thumb|Victoria Peak Garden in 2016]]
In 1969, the former [[Urban Council]] redeveloped the site as a park<ref>''Wa Kiu Yat Po'', 18 May 1969</ref> (the current [[Victoria Peak Garden]]) with public facilities including a new pavilion, lighting and drainage systems, a car park, a kiosk and a public toilet at the west of the pavilion. The pavilion of the Garden was built upon the masonry platform of the former Mountain Lodge.

In 1979, a pair of stone lions, donated by businessman Mr. Chau Yau, was located at the northern entrance of the pavilion. Another pair of stone lions was donated by the [[Lions Clubs International|Lions Club]] in the 1990s, which was placed at the southern entrance of the pavilion.

Three identical marking stones for the Lodge were rediscovered in 1978; since then, one of them has been placed at the northeast corner of the former lodge grounds. One of the three ''GOVERNORS RESIDENCE'' stones has been erected in a flowerbed close to the [[Government House, Hong Kong|Government House]], [[Mid-Levels]] since 1980.

==Plans==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024028/http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/srch/english/library_show_detail_full.jsp?recordkey=1000008235&srchscreen=sys_all&version=internet Hong Kong Public Records Office Plan of Mountain Lodge proposed additions (floor plans and elevations), 28 October 1873.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024032/http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/srch/english/library_show_detail_full.jsp?recordkey=1000010515&srchscreen=sys_all&version=internet Hong Kong Public Records Office Plan of Mountain Lodge additions, from 1879–1894]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024035/http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/srch/english/library_show_detail_full.jsp?recordkey=1000010623&srchscreen=sys_all&version=internet Hong Kong Public Records Office Plan of proposed Mountain Lodge September, 1899]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_52.php Gate Lodge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031164848/http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_52.php |date=31 October 2019 }} {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/part1_statement_of_significance.pdf "Part 1 - Statement of Significance"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024003218/http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/part1_statement_of_significance.pdf |date=24 October 2019 }}. ''Interpretation Study On The Site Of Former Mountain Lodge And Its Surrounding Areas''. The Oval Partnership for [[Leisure and Cultural Services Department]] (December 2011). Note: see p.&nbsp;46 for a photograph of the first Mountain Lodge.
* [http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/part2_study_report.pdf "Part 2 - Study Report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614042038/http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/part2_study_report.pdf |date=14 June 2018 }}. ''Interpretation Study On The Site Of Former Mountain Lodge And Its Surrounding Areas''. The Oval Partnership for [[Leisure and Cultural Services Department]] (December 2011).
* Historical photographs of the second Mountain Lodge at the Government of Hong Kong website: [https://archive.today/20121218125249/http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/imgroot/2-4/2-4-80.jpg] [http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/imgroot/8-19c(a)/8-19c-165.jpg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510180019/http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/imgroot/8-19c(a)/8-19c-165.jpg |date=10 May 2017 }} [http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/imgroot/8-19b(a)/8-19b-79.jpg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510180015/http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/imgroot/8-19b(a)/8-19b-79.jpg |date=10 May 2017 }} [http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/imgroot/8-13(a)/8-13-36.jpg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510180226/http://www.grs.gov.hk/PRO/imgroot/8-13(a)/8-13-36.jpg |date=10 May 2017 }}
{{Central and Western District}}
{{Government buildings in Hong Kong}}

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[[Category:Official residences in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Government buildings in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Victoria Peak]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1946]]