Last week I spent a day in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius. I was at the harbour to check if there might be something new since last time I was here (2022). There were no new street art. But I went inside this buidling – The Granary - located at the Trou Fanfaron Harbour. This huge building in red bricks was once built as a warehouse, but today it functions as an indoor parking lot. It's located only a few minutes walk from Caurdan Waterfront shopping complex, which makes it a convient place to park. I have never before thought of taken photos inside, before now. The only thing is that the inside it is quite dark.The only light is natural light form windows and the entrances. So when I was in standing in the middle of the «room» it was quite dark. I use high ISO and no flash.
This huge building is not only the largest warehouse on the island, but also the largest building ever being built of red bricks here on the island. When seeing it from the harbour side, this building dominates the whole area. A signboard outside includes an old photo where you can see the building from the seaside, including information about it. Two acres over three levels says something about the size.
I have been inside the building many times. Both because we have parked our car here, but I have also seen it completely empty of cars, because it was used as an exhibitioan arena during the cultural festival called Porlwi by Nature in 2017. When inside, I took a walk around the whole place and took time to study details, like the construction, light etc. One of the murals painted on the wall for the Porlwi by Nature exhibition is still here.
Like many places of thistorical interest in Port Louis, there is a signboard in both English and French with information about the building. It says that it was built between 1927 and 1931 to function as a warehouse. Sacks of sugar, rice and grains were stored here. This was done in the event of a shortage of food. The building had modern, mechanical equipment on the sea side, to ease the unloading of merchandise. The storage capacity was 300.000 sacks. This amount of food was enough to feed the whole population for four month or more. Up unntil the 1950s the goods were transported / distributed by a railway.
Because the warehouse is located with the front towards the seaside, it became important to protect it during war. After all, it was here the food was stored. During WWII the Granary was camoflaged by covering it with leaves and branches, to avoid attacks. It functioned as a warehouse up until the 1980s. Then a new terminal was buildt.
There are several museums, places and buildings of interests close to The Granary. Like the entrance to the old Custom House and the old mill.
This photo was taken today on the opposite side of the harbor. Even from this distance it is huge.
You can still see the cranes that were used to lift the bags of goods up and into the second floor. When they then had to be sent down to the first flor for furhter transport, ( horses or ox chart before the lorry) it was done via the spiral-shaped slides, some of which have been retained. My husband was born in Mauritius. His family still runs a shop selling wholesale rice. When he was young, he often went to The Granary together with his farther to pick up the sacks with rice. The building is today on the list of historical heritage sites.
Sources:the signboard by the entrance
https://www.mymauritius.travel/places-to-go/port-louis-capital-city-mauritius
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U.J
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