British embassy receives blue heritage plaque

BLUE plaques are being placed on heritage buildings in Yangon as part of measures to conserve Yangon’s cultural legacy, and the British embassy on Strand Road has been honored with the Yangon Heritage Trust’s 28th commemorative blue plaque.

“The building is grand with respect to architectural features. The building is also at the same location as the British Council’s library. Having the library located in the center of the city is really convenient for students pursuing international advanced studies,” said Daw Moe Moe Lwin, the Director of the Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT).

The British embassy was built in 1900. It served as the head office of the Glasgow-based J. and F. Graham & Co., in 1898. The company was involved in shipping and insurance. It also imported general merchandize and exported rice and other local products.

After independence, the building was sold in 1948 for 64,000 Sterling Pounds and was converted into the British embassy. In 1966, the British Council’s library was moved to the building from the Department of Internal Revenue, which is located at the corner of Pansodan and Merchant Streets. In 1978, the library was reopened as the British embassy’s culture department. “Our building has been existing for years as a place of connection between the people of Myanmar and UK. The ground floor, which houses the library, has been renovated,” said Dr. Richard Sunderland, the Myanmar Director of the British Council.

The ceremony to award the blue plaque was attended by the British ambassador, and officials from the Yangon City Development Committee and YHT.

Zarni Maung

(Translated by Hay Mar)

PHOTO: ZARNI MAUNG

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar