This illustration shows the Residency building as seen before the rising of 1857. It was an imposing three-storied building standing on a plateau. The place was selected by Sir Henry Lawrence for defense and after the outbreak of the revolt he transferred his head-quarters there. The Residency was besieged by the Indian troops in large numbers; but it was ably defended by the British garrison until relieved by Sir Colin Campbell in November 1857.

The Residency was a huge complex and the official home of the British Resident General in Lucknow.  It went through the most dramatic battle scenes of the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Rebellion in 1857, played a significant role in the siege of Lucknow. At the time of the mutiny, Indian soldiers fought a hard battle against the British to take control of The Residency.

There were 3000 white inhabitants inside, 2000 of them died in the months-long battle. After 6 months of the battle, reinforcements arrived, that saved the rest of the 1000 inhabitants.  The building was so damaged in the conflict that it became unfit for human habitation. It still stands in its ruins as a testimony to the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 even today.

Mughal-Library