It is one of the most unique mansions in Sri Lanka and a beautiful mansion with a heartwarming love story.  Richmond Castle, known to many as the name implies


         Where is Richmond Castle?

 The mansion we are talking about today is in the Kalutara area.  Kalutara is a place that flourished from the Black River and has been revered by many aristocrats since colonial times.  Kalutara is famous as an area where many rich people, aristocrats and nobles used to live in the past.

         Km from Kalutara town.  Richmond Castle is located about 3 miles inland.  That is, if you are going from Kalutara town, first take the Gangabada road and then take the Palathota-Kethhena road from the Palathota junction.  On the way past the Bhikku Rest House, you can see a huge mosaic nameplate with the name "Richmond Castle"


         About 500 meters from the center of the coconut grove with a large pandal that starts from here, you can see Richmond Castle as a grand mansion built on a slightly higher hill bordering the Black River.   

     The total land on which Richmond Castle is located is 42 acres.  The boundary of the mansion is about an acre.  This huge mansion has 16 rooms, 99 windows and 38 windows.


                                                                 Who built the palace?

    
         Richmond Castle was built in 1910.  This magnificent palace was designed by Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena Padikara Mudali, who was in charge of the Kalutara District at that time.  Arthur de Silva is the second in the family and has an older brother, Hector de Silva.  Their father built a house in Kollupitiya and settled there in the late 19th century.  Although the descendants of this priest, Paulis de Silva of the Nanayakkara dynasty Appuhamila, lived in the coastal areas, they had fled to the south and central hills in the face of colonial invasions.  Arthur de Silva's father belongs to a family of Sinhalese who fled to the south.

    
     However, the aristocrat Paulis de Silva is sending his two children to Europe to pursue higher education.  Our protagonist, who has been studying abroad for many years, returns to his homeland as an educated, intelligent and wealthy young man.

 Arthur de Silva - Clarice Modi Matilda Sooriyabandara marriage.
 Arthur de Silva - Clarice Modi Matilda Sooriyabandara marriage.

 How was Richmond Castle built?
 There are a lot of legends about the construction of Richmond Castle.  Here is the top and most popular news


        The father is taking steps to get this young man married after returning to Sri Lanka after completing his education.  It is suggested that beautiful young women be selected from many rich and aristocratic families.  Arthur de Silva wants to marry one of them because he is attracted to one of them.  This girl is Clarice Modi Matilda Sooriyabandara, the daughter of Kalutara District Judge Suriya Bandara.  But the girl's party dislikes this, saying that even Arthur de Silva's wealth is not enough for his daughter.

This does not shake our story leader.  He thinks of a way to get his girlfriend and show off his wealth.  It was on this occasion that Arthur de Silva received an invitation from a great king of India to visit the country on business

        During this visit, the young Arthur de Silva will have the opportunity to visit the grand palace of a great king.  The Great King is asked to give him the plan of the mansion, as Arthur has a love and thought that such a mansion should be built.  But the Maharaja does not want to give it to anyone in Sri Lanka.  The Maharaja has spoken insultingly, "Can the people of Sri Lanka do that?"  Arthur, who had immediately made a bet with the Maharaja, returned to Sri Lanka with the firm determination that "I too will build a palace like this."

 Even with the use of color, you can see the difference.

         On his return to Sri Lanka, Arthur sent two Sri Lankan architects to India and ordered them to visit the Maharaja's Palace.  This is how Arthur built a great mansion called Richmond Castle. 

        Arthur, who built his palace like the Maharaja's palace and showed the strength and ability of the Sinhalese, said, "Here I can too."  I also built it. ”He also invited the Maharaja to come and open the palace.  The Maharaja who came to Sri Lanka to inaugurate the palace can still see the pictures inside the Richmond Castle.
    
    
 Suriya Bandara was overjoyed to see Arthur's mansion and has agreed to marry his daughter to Arthur.  So both the mansion and the wedding took place on the same day.

        Special features of the mansion
 This mansion is built according to a strange art form and a strange architectural style.  Only lime, sand, black stone and technology have been taken from Sri Lanka to build the mansion.  The manure, bricks and marble used for the palace are imported from Italy and Scotland.  Round stairs and ceiling tiles are imported from England.  Two teak ships were imported from Rangoon, Burma.  All these raw materials were brought by sea across the Black River.
        One of the features that reflects the technology and architecture of the time is the Chinese staircase on the side of the house.  This is imported from England.  Anyone who climbs the stairs can see the main hall very well

        There are 12 very strong wooden pillars inside the hall of this house which has many wood carvings from the Kandy era.  All of this is made of single teak wood and is designed to be a single pole from a single tree with nowhere to go.  These wooden pillars not only add to the beauty of the house but also add to the pride.

 The architecture of this mansion is at a very high level that cannot be compared to the present.  Arthur de Silva did not forget to use the river around the land for the comfort of the house.  The boundary exposed to the river where the main hall of the mansion is located is very special.  That is why this mansion attracts so many visitors that it is unforgettable.

 Arrangements have been made to bring natural coolness into the house through several small windows in various parts of the house.

    
     This central courtyard of the mansion, which has a large central courtyard, is surrounded by walls.  The architect who designed the Richmond Castle had designed the lion statue in the central courtyard to provide water for the rooms inside the palace.  Also, rainwater from the roof was allowed to collect in one place and drain through pipes under the house.  The purpose was to bring natural cooling to the mansion.

 Many of these unique features can be found throughout Richmond Castle.

 The Richmond Castle tragedy
 At the end of the story of this huge mansion, which was constructed in such a wonderful and solemn manner, there is a moving news to be told.

         Arthur de Silva Mudali and Clarice Modi Matilda Sooriyabandara, who lived in harmony for 30 years, had no children.  Because of this, the couple has been in great pain.  It is at this time that the bad deeds of Arthur de Silva Mudali come to light.  It was by chance that Mudali came to know that his beloved wife, who was married with seven thorns, had an affair with a servant of the palace.  Legend has it that Arthur de Silva Mudali was very upset because of this.  Arthur is now 51 years old.  Sooriyabandara Lamathani is 50 years old.  This is unbelievable, but the fact that they have no children confirms this story inadvertently.

 In the end, Mr. Mudali gave up all his resources and decided to say goodbye to the mansion and his wife and rent room 75 in the Queens Hotel in Kandy to live in solitude.  Legend has it that before that he ran away with the former employee of the children's home.
         However, at that time the value was Rs.  Arthur de Silva did not forget to write a last will and testament to send 300 and 250 coconuts monthly for the rest of her life and to use the rest of the property to take care of the boys.

 Our protagonist Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena Padikara Mudali breathes his last on July 08, 1947, leaving us with a luxurious mansion and a heartbreaking tragedy.

 To this day, Richmond Castle continues to flourish in the city of Kalutara.  The Richmond Palace, which has been the setting for many movies and telenovelas, is sure to be a delight to visit again.  This is so special.  Beautiful …This mansion is today managed by the General Treasury




An excerpt.  Photography is owned by the photographer