The Roxburgh Project

Three heritage buildings, an outdoor pavilion, and a ferry

The Roxburgh International Hub Project has been initiated to revitalise the immensely historic Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanical Garden across the river from the great metropolis of Kolkata, erstwhile Calcutta, and to promote it as a leading cultural, educational and leisure destination. The Roxburgh House, Old Herbarium and Old Seed Store, situated on the banks of the River Hooghly, comprise the historic core of the AJC Bose Indian Botanical Garden.  The Project envisages restoring and rehabilitating this ensemble of heritage buildings as the core of a reinvigorated public engagement programme, housing interpretation, museum and research facilities.

       Roxburgh House​

William Roxburgh is widely known as the “Founding Father of Indian Botany” and was the first paid Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden - now known an the A J C Bose Indian Botanic Garden. Roxburgh House is a building he built and used during his stay at the gardens from 1796 to 1813. It now lies neglected and is in dire need of help.

   Old Herbarium and Library​

Built in 1883 on the model of the 1853 Herbarium building at Kew, The Old Herbarium and Library building, situated a stone's throw away from Roxburgh House, is a significant Victorian colonial public building of its time, made in brick, timber and wrought iron. The proposed restoration of the Old Herbarium is the first phase of the larger Roxburgh Project.

        Old Seed Store

Used once as an administrative building and seed store stands alongside the Old Herbarium, completing the riverside ensemble of the three historic structures.  A modest two storied building, the Seed Store remains in relatively good physical condition, portions of which are still in use as a canteen for the Staff and dead storage. The upper floor - probably used as a residence, is not accessible.