History of Government House (1)

HOME OF THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR PALESTINE

Prior to 1930, the High Commission for Palestine was variously housed in a number of rented premises in and around Jerusalem . In 1927, plans were initiated to select a more suitable site for a Government House, a Select Committee was appointed by the British Chief Secretary and was tasked to recommend a suitable site. This Select Committee considered eighteen possible locations in the Jerusalem area, and finally settled on Jabal El Muqabbar (The Hill of Evil Counsel). The committee gave the following reasons for its decision:

1. The selected site commanded a noble view over the city of Jerusalem , it was equalled only by the view from the Mount of Olives . The site offered views to the Judean Hills in the north, to the Hills of Moab over the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the east and across typical Palestinian scenery to the south.

2. The site is conveniently approached by easy gradients from the Bethlehem Road and with minor modifications to the access road, the approach is adequately sheltered in bad weather.

3. The whole site of approximately 80 dunams, which includes slopes on either side, can be purchased at a reasonable sum not exceeding 8000 pounds (it was not anticipated that there would be any difficulties in effecting the purchase).

4. A house in this location cannot be overlooked, nor can it be built around. Development may and will take place along the approach road, but, if purchase of a sufficient area around the actual site if the house and gardens is made, it cannot advance further towards the site than the somewhat narrow neck of the ridge. The type of building development along the approach road can be controlled by Town Planning.

5. The site is not more exposed, and perhaps less than Katamon, less so than any site on Nablus Road, on the Tor Road, on the Jaffa Road entry to Jerusalem, or at the houses on King George ' s Avenue. In elevation the site is 785 metres, compared to 810 at the old Government House, 752 at the Cathan site, 772 at the Katamon site, 780 at the Nicopheria site and Jesuit College , 780 at Talbia and 818 at Mount Scopus . It is considerably protected from the worst winds by the broad plateau between Talpiot and the Clarice Convent.

6. The Architect of the Public Works Department (British Mandate of Palestine), Mr Harrison, stated that a house could be planned and sited in such a way as to limit the effects of any exposure to the elements, and that in a certain number of years, added protection would be given by judicious planting of trees.

7. The proposal to pass the main drainage of the city down the lower Kidron Valley was considered. The Director of the Department of Health, after examining Mr Watson ' s drainage schemes, stated that there would be no unpleasant effects from the disposal works and they would not be visible from Government House.

8. The committee considered that for eight months of the year, the site would be pleasant and cool, removed from dust, noise or any unpleasant results of proximity to native dwellings, while during the winter months, it was no more exposed than the best residential quarters in Jerusalem.

Approval was therefore given to acquire this land and subsequently, several smaller adjoining plots at a total cost of 8 700 pounds. The house itself was completed in 1931 at a total cost of 53 000 pounds, the architect was Austen St B. Harrison of the Public Works Department. He also designed the Palestinian Archeological Museum and later, Nuffield College , Oxford , England. The house became the permanent residence of the British High Commissioner for Palestine . By 1933, a large orchard was established and large numbers of specimen trees were planted on the barren hill.