The Canning Story

At the Barrackpore Cantonment, on the banks of the Hooghly River, lies a silent cemetery rarely visited by anyone. This is the graveyard of the first Vicereine of India—Charlotte Canning, popularly known as Lady Canning.

In 1861, while on a trip to Darjeeling, Lady Canning fell ill. Upon returning to Calcutta, she contracted malaria and died at the Government House at the age of 44. She was buried in Barrackpore on the banks of the Hooghly, at a spot she was said to be fond of. Lord Canning grieved deeply over the untimely demise of his loving wife and is said to have visited her grave daily.

In 1913, the marble tomb built atop the grave was shifted to Calcutta, primarily to better maintain the white marble. The ornate memorial holds special significance because it was designed by her sister, Lady Waterford. The monument was initially moved to St. Paul's Cathedral but was finally relocated to St. John's Church. To this day, the memorial lies in the northern corridor of St. John's Church. A replica was subsequently installed over the original grave in Barrackpore, where her actual remains still lie.

In 1862, just a year after Lady Canning's death, Lord Canning passed away in London from liver disease. He was buried at the famous Westminster Abbey.

In 1969, as part of an initiative to remove colonial monuments and statues from the streets of Calcutta, a bronze statue of Lord Canning was relocated from the Maidan to Barrackpore, positioned opposite Lady Canning’s tomb. The unique placement makes it appear as if Lord Canning is guarding his wife's final resting place.

In Bengal, the legacy of the Cannings remains embedded. The subdivisional town of Canning, Canning Street in the Burrabazar area, and even the famous Bengali sweet 'Ledikeni' bear the Canning legacy even today.