Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- The Cathedral: When the British took control of Bombay in 1661, the Portuguese had already established the Esperanza Cathedral (Nossa Senhora da Esperança), which stood close to what became the Bombay Fort. [1, 2, 3]
- What Happened: To clear the glacis (the open, unobstructed slope) for the defensive perimeter of the Bombay Fort, the British demolished the Esperanza Cathedral for security reasons around 1739-1740. The church was relocated, and its historical site is today marked by a cross on the Cross Maidan. [1]
- Present Day: The walled limits of the Bombay Fort were subsequently razed in the 1860s to allow the city to expand, creating the modern Fort precinct. [1, 2]
WHEN BRITISH MADE THE BOMBAY FORT/CASTLE -THE OUT SIDE PORTUGUESE CHURCH (Nossa Senhora da Esperança) WAS DEMOLISHED - TO GET A CLEAR VIEW OF ANY ENEMY SHIPS IN THE SEA TO THE WEST -
- The church was relocated, and its historical site is today marked by a cross on the Cross Maidan. [1]
1. Historical Era
In 1610, the area that is now Mumbai was under Portuguese control and consisted of seven separate, swampy fishing islands known collectively as Bom Bahia. The region functioned as a Portuguese naval base until it was handed over to the British in 1661. [1]
