Duddell Street

Duddell Street is a small street located near the Lan Kwai Fong district in Central, Hong Kong. Named after George and Frederick Duddell, it stretches from Ice House Street to Queen's Road Central. The street is noted for containing the city's last four gas lamps.

Duddell Street
Entrance of Duddell Street from Ice House Street
Native name都爹利街
LocationCentral, Hong Kong
Coordinates
South endIce House Street
North endQueen's Road Central
Construction
Construction start1875
Completion1899
Duddell Street
Traditional Chinese都爹利街

History

This short street includes, at its southern end, a flight of granite steps that were built between 1875 and 1889;[1] these lead up to Ice House Street. The street was named in honour of brothers George and Frederick Duddell. Both were landowners in the early days of the colony, having emigrated from Macau after the 1841 annexation of Hong Kong.[2] George was an auctioneer and ultimately a significant property owner in the area around the present Duddell Street in the mid-19th century.[3] When Frederick and his wife died, they were both buried back in Macau at the Old Protestant Cemetery.[2]

Gas lamps
Firemen stand by to watch for any gas leaks after the gas lamps at Duddell Street, Hong Kong, were damaged by Typhoon Mangkhut (2018).
Damage to the stairs and missing gas lamps in September 2018

The street is famous for its four gas-powered street lamps. While all other street lamps in Hong Kong are now electric, these four still use town gas. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company continues the operation of the lamps as objects of historical interest. Duddell Street Steps and Gas Lamps are Declared monuments of Hong Kong.[4]

Three of the four street lights have been destroyed on 16 September 2018 during Typhoon Mangkhut.

Retail

In June 2009, Hong Kong retail design store G.O.D. collaborated with Starbucks and created a store with a "Bing Sutt Corner" at their store on Duddell Street. It is a concept that fuses the retro bing sutt, a Hong Kong teahouse style with the contemporary look of a coffeehouse.[5]

In April 2012, the flagship store of clothing retailer Shanghai Tang was opened at 1 Duddell Street, known as the 'Shanghai Tang Mansion'. It is close to 1,400-square-metres in size and is the largest branch in the world, designed by Shanghai-based design firm Design MVW.[6]

Photos
  • Gas lamp and stairs on Duddell Street
  • Gas lamp on Duddell Street
  • Gas lamp on Duddell Street
  • Pipeline supplying town gas to the street lamps
  • An old tree on the stone wall of the street

See also

References
  1. Central and Western Heritage Trail - Duddell Street Steps and Gas Lamps
  2. Wordie, Jason (1 May 2002). Exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong University Press. p. 46. ISBN 9789622095632. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. Endacott, G. B. (2005) [1962]. A biographical sketch-book of early Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 978-9622097421.
  4. "Duddell Street Steps and Gas Lamps, Central". Antiquities and Monuments Office. Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  5. DeWolf, Christopher (21 April 2010). "Hong Kong's best bing sutt: Guide to old-school diners". CNN Travel. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  6. "Welcome back, Shanghai Tang! Hong Kong flagship biggest in the world". CNN Go. 26 April 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
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