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DOVETON HOUSE

The oldest and the most imposing building on campus, Doveton House was built some time before 1780 and has a long and chequered  history. It is a stately Georgian colonial mansion with a lofty elephant porch.

The Doveton House became the property of Sir John Doveton about 30 years after it was built. Sir John was in the Madras Cavalry and served with distinction throughout the historic campaign against the combined forces of Hyder Ali of Mysore and his French and Dutch allies. He died in 1847 at Doveton House and bequeathed the house and property to a Brahmin family whose descendants assumed the name of  Doveton in addition to their Hindu titles.

In 1875, the house saw a different inmate- Malhar Rao, Gaekwar of  Baroda, who was deported to Madras and confined in the Doveton house for an attempt  to murder Colonel Phyrae, the British resident at his court.

In 1914 the house was the venue of  a session of the  Indian National Congress. The title deeds bear the signature of 'Annie Besant'. On May 2, 1916, Doveton house became the property of the College and its new home.