Half-length painted portrait of Major-General John Garstin (1756-1820), Bengal Engineers. Wearing a red coat.

Half-length portrait of Major-General John Garstin (1756-1820), Bengal Engineers. Illustrator: Opie, John India Source/Shelfmark: Foster 881 John Garstin is best known as the architect of Calcutta Town Hall which was commenced in 1807 and completed in 1813 . Two years later a number of defects were discovered in the structure and Garstin was obliged to pay for all the repairs, although it was acknowledged that some of the damage had been caused by the soil conditions of the site. Garstin was also responsible for the building of the great granary at Bankipore, and although he has often been ridiculed for the design, with the doors opening inwards, he was not actually the architect, merely in charge of the construction. His final report however made no mention of the error. Artist: , Opie, John (1761-1807)