Richmond Castle
In the countryside of Kalutara, Sri Lanka is Richmond Castle, an old Edwardian mansion. Built in the early 1900s, it was the home of the local baron Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena. Located on a hill 2 km from the Kalutara town, the 42 acre estate is currently open to the public.
History
The mansion was built by Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur De Silva Wijeysinghe Siriwardena (12 November 1889 – 8 July 1947). Arthur De Silva Wijeysinghe was the son of a wealthy and influential Sri Lankan planter. He was schooled in Britain and on completion of his studies was bestowed the title of Baron by the king.
Shortly after, Baron Arthur Siriwardena returned to Sri Lanka to take up his position. On the way he visited India, where he was inspired by the palace of his old school pal, Raja Rajeswara Sethupathi, the Maharaja of Ramnad.
As the story goes, he asked for the construction plans of the palace from Sethupathi in order to build a house in the same image. But the maharaja refused on the grounds that a Ceylonese did not have the skills to undertake such a major project. On hearing this, the baron went back to Ceylon where he hired the services of two good local architects. He then visited his friend again, this time bringing along the architects with him. They viewed the castle and copied its plan in secret. The Baron then had Richmond Castle built as a symbol of Sri Lanka’s splendor and power. Every inch of the structure boasted the highest luxury of the era. All essential supplies for the building; such as floor and roofing tiles, timber, stained glass, decorative items, and bathroom fittings; were outsourced from various countries abroad. It was a sight never before seen in Sri Lanka.
The Baron moved into Richmond Castle in 1910 upon his marriage to a young noble beauty, Clarice Matilda Maude Suriyabandara. Richmond Castle had beautiful flower gardens and fruit orchards, and was often host to lavish banquets for foreign and Sri Lankan dignitaries. It is said that Siriwardena also had a troupe of over 50 performers for the entertainment of his guests, a grand white horse driven carriage, and employed a small private army for protection.
However, despite the fairytale life blessed with every comfort in life, the noble couple lacked one of the greatest delights, a child of their own. It is said that marble statues of infants all around the park were made so that the couple could gaze at them lovingly from atop the balcony. Sadly, the marriage did not last, and the baron was overcome with grief. He bequeathed all his wealth to a trust for the public and then lived as a hermit in a hotel in Kandy. He never returned to Richmond Castle for the remainder of his life. Baron Siriwardena died in 1947 at the age of 59, but made provisions for his ex-wife’s care till the time of her death.
The estate was taken care of by his trust, and was later opened to the public.
