The Mayo Hall is situated next to the Public Utility
Building on M.G. Road and its backyard touches Field
Marshall Cariappa Road. Lately, the Bangalore Mahanagara
Palike (BMP) has built an island fountain park in front
of it, which is a pleasant sight for passers by. Till recently,
the Mayo Hall was also the venue for BMP Council meetings. Today,
the Mayo Hall houses a couple of departments of the BMP,
including its Record Room. Some traffic courts also function
from here.
The Mayo Hall in Bangalore is a remarkable brick and
mortar structure, built in memory of the then fourth Viceroy
of India (1872), Lord Mayo. When he was on an official visit
to Andaman Islands in 1872, a convict there assassinated
him.
Although the construction began in the year 1875, it
could be completed only in 1883. The Bangalore Municipal
Authority started functioning from here in 1883. The
Mayo Hall, according to a contemporary gazetteer, "Has produced
a profound impression all over the country" and this led
to the construction of a number of memorial institutions like
the Mayo Hospital and the Mayo School of Arts
at Lahore
According to the Bangalore District Gazetteer (page No.946),
the building was built at a cost of Rs 45,000, which included
a public subscription of Rs 25,000. Of the Rs 45,000, Rs 5,000
was spent on furnishing the place. In June 1883, it was handed
over to the Bangalore Municipal Commission, on condition
that the upper storey of the hall, "Should at all proper
and reasonable times be available to the public for all meetings
of a public nature, free of any charge.
" The Mayo Hall has tall columns and the mouldings atop
have minute friezes in mortar. "The building in elevation
is remarkable for its composition of architravated and pedimented
windows, varied with key-storied arches, beautifully executed
consoles, balustrated ledges and typical Greek cornice."
(as recorded in the Gazetteer).
The adjoining block - previously referred to as "station
public offices"- was built in 1904 and inaugurated
by Sir James Bourdillion, the then British Resident in
Mysore. This block is in stylistic consonance with the Mayo
Hall building.
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