Four Mansions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Four Mansions (Chinese: 四大厝; pinyin: Sì dà cuò), also known as the Four Grand Residences,[1] were four elaborate Chinese-style mansions built by four Teochew businessmen – Tan Seng Poh, Seah Eu Chin, Wee Ah Hood, and Tan Yeok Nee – in late 19th-century in Singapore.[2] Of the four houses only one, the House of Tan Yeok Nee, has survived and since been declared as a national monument.
The earliest of the four was built by Tan Seng Poh in 1869. Subsequent houses by Seah, Wee, and Tan Yeok Nee were built in 1872, 1878, and 1885, respectively. Tan Seng Poh's house was used by both him and the Chinese consul to Singapore, being demolished in 1904 and replaced by shophouses. Seah's house was used by him and his family before it was demolished sometime after World War II, currently being the land which the Parliament House sits on.
Wee would live in his house until his death in 1875, wherein his son rented it out for parties. It would be occupied by the General Chinese Trade Affairs Association in 1906, where they planned to redevelop the land into a five-storey building. After the war, it would finally be redeveloped in 1963. Tan Yeok Nee's house would be his main residence before he sold it to the Federated Malay States Railways for their nearby extension of their railway; he would move back to Chaozhou, China. Ownership of his house would be passed around before eventually being given to the Salvation Army, who occupied the house from 1938 to 1991. Following its selling to Wing Tai in 1996, they would begin restoration efforts of the house in 1999. The current owner of the house is Indonesian businessman Bachtiar Karim.
Background
Tan Seng Poh was born sometime in 1830 in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, when it was still a part of the Federated Malay States. His father was the first Kaptian China of Perak.[3] When he turned nine, his sister brought him with her to Singapore under British rule, where he would receive his education. Tan's family became in-laws with the Gambier King when Tan's sister married Seah Eu Chin. Tan had a short stint managing the Seah family business, earning himself a reputation for being a major figure as a pepper and gambier merchant. Tan was also known for being the chief revenue farmer for the Singapore and Johore opium and spirit farms.[4] Notably, Tan served on the Municipal Commission as the first Chinese member for three terms and had close relations with the Sultan of Johore.[3] He died on 18 December 1879.[5][1]
House
Tan's house was built in 1869 at Hill Street; his house was the first of the Four Mansions. Tan's house occupied land measuring 21,512 square feet (1,998.53 square meters).[6] The exact address of the Houe of Tan Poh Seng was 58 Hill Street. It was located between Hill Street and Armenian Street and it shared the same main entrance facing with Albion Hotel which was located at 59 Hill Street and the mansion's back was alongside the Zetland House (18 Armenian Street).[7][8] Armenian Street was aptly and colloquially known as Seng Po toa chu au, meaning behind Seng Poh's grand mansion then.[9] His house was also the office of Zuo Binglong, the first Chinese consul to Singapore after he was appointed by the Qing government in 1881. Tan lived in his house till his death in 1879. Though the house was transferred to Tan's wife Yeo Goh Neo and his two sons Tan Keng Swee and Tan Keng Wah,[3] the house did not remain with the family due to mortgage debt.[10] Its final ownership would land on Loke Yew who would eventually built a row of 17 shophouses and a street on the location of the House of Tan Poh Seng.[11] Based on the timeline of events and the completion of the shophouse in early 1904, it was safe to say that the Houe of Tan Poh Seng was most likely demolished between late 1902 and 1903.[12] No photographs of his house exist.[1]
House of Seah Eu Chin
Background
Seah Eu Chin was born in 1805 and lived in a village in Theng-hai, Swatow, China, before moving to Singapore in 1823. He travelled to Singapore aboard a junk while working as its clerk; he would continue working as a clerk for five years. He and his sons, Seah Cheo Seah and Seah Liang Seah would go on to have a very successful trading business and own multiple plots of land, on which Seah grew gambier and pepper.[4] Such was his success that he became known as the Gambier King. He retired in 1864 and died on 23 September 1883.[13]
House
The House of Seah Eu Chin occupied a land area of 18,677 square feet (1,735.15 square meters) and was located at 13 Boat Quay, alongside the Singapore River.[14] It was then known as Chin Heng toa cchu or Chin Heng Grand Mansion,[9] with Chin Heng being the name of Seah's business.
The House of Seah Eu Chin was a courtyard mansion-style that was made up of both Straits Settlements and Chaozhou architectural styles. Houses in these styles typically included a Teochew gate which led to the foreyard of the house, which had a storied shophouse look instead of Chaozhou typology.[15]
Upon his death in 1883, the property stayed with the Seah family before Seah's grandsons, Seah Eng Kiat and Seah Eng Kun sold it on 30 December 1918 to Guthrie and Company Limited for $392,217.[16] Between 1938 and 1941, in the midst of proposing new building plans to the Municipal authorities to build new godowns on the premise,[17] the House of Sah Eu Chin was demolished during this time. The land was eventually acquired by the State on 30 September 1971, and today sits the Parliament House.[14]
