On the east bank of the Wang River that runs through Lampang is another historical area - that of the forestry department plus the Louis Leonowens house.
The old forestry department HQs
Wat Pratu Pong
A pretty Lanna style wat, built in 1577(?) adjoining the forest dept on the block next door.
The Louis Leonowens colonial house.
300 metres away down a soi & on another block from the Forestry Dept, behind some old staff quarters, is the old home of Louis Leonowens.
A superb classic old colonial house in need of some TLC.
Owned by the forestry department it sadly does not appear high on their list of budget requirements.
The Louis Leonowens story is a beauty though, as is the house.
Born in 1856 in West Australia, Louis was the son of Anna Leonowens, & led an amazing life even from his very early days.
He was in Penang & Singapore as a kid; & at 7 arrived in Thailand with his Mum who taught English to the royal family of Mongkut.
When 11 he was sent to school in Ireland. At 15 he ran away to the USA, but 4 years later fleeing debts, he rocked up in Australia.
At 25 he finally moved to Bangkok, & got a job as a Captain in the Royal Cavalry.
In 1882 he resigned & joined the Borneo Company, extracting teak in the North of Thailand.
A wheeler and dealer, he secured teak leases in his name for the teak companies to extract teak.
He founded his own company - the Louis T.Leonowens Company - & built a beautiful house, just 300 metres off the Wang River.
Not long after completing the house he semi-retired, spending time in the UK.
His last visit to Thailand was in 1914, but the Louis T.Leonowens Company continued to operate.
In 1919 Leonowens died 1919 from the Spanish Flu in the UK.
In 1986, Louis T. Leonowens Ltd. merged with Muller & Phipps (Thai) Ltd. Muller Phipps is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the U.S.-based international marketing and distribution company, Getz Bros & Co., Inc. Louis T. Leonowens (Thailand) is a member of Getz Group of Companies. The company still lives on.
The original safe.
There's a freelance gent sometimes in attendance on the grounds who will show you around.
It is well worth a wander. Oh what a life those early colonial teak traders lived!
maps.app.goo.gl
In 1920 the timber for The Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha) renovation in Bangkok was donated by the Louis T. Leonowens company in Bangkok.
See also:
en.wikipedia.org
www.chiangmai-alacarte.com
www.getz.com
Some Teak logging info for those intertested.
www.gt-rider.com
www.gt-rider.com
www.gt-rider.com
The old forestry department HQs
Wat Pratu Pong
A pretty Lanna style wat, built in 1577(?) adjoining the forest dept on the block next door.
The Louis Leonowens colonial house.
300 metres away down a soi & on another block from the Forestry Dept, behind some old staff quarters, is the old home of Louis Leonowens.
A superb classic old colonial house in need of some TLC.
Owned by the forestry department it sadly does not appear high on their list of budget requirements.
The Louis Leonowens story is a beauty though, as is the house.
Born in 1856 in West Australia, Louis was the son of Anna Leonowens, & led an amazing life even from his very early days.
He was in Penang & Singapore as a kid; & at 7 arrived in Thailand with his Mum who taught English to the royal family of Mongkut.
When 11 he was sent to school in Ireland. At 15 he ran away to the USA, but 4 years later fleeing debts, he rocked up in Australia.
At 25 he finally moved to Bangkok, & got a job as a Captain in the Royal Cavalry.
In 1882 he resigned & joined the Borneo Company, extracting teak in the North of Thailand.
A wheeler and dealer, he secured teak leases in his name for the teak companies to extract teak.
He founded his own company - the Louis T.Leonowens Company - & built a beautiful house, just 300 metres off the Wang River.
Not long after completing the house he semi-retired, spending time in the UK.
His last visit to Thailand was in 1914, but the Louis T.Leonowens Company continued to operate.
In 1919 Leonowens died 1919 from the Spanish Flu in the UK.
In 1986, Louis T. Leonowens Ltd. merged with Muller & Phipps (Thai) Ltd. Muller Phipps is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the U.S.-based international marketing and distribution company, Getz Bros & Co., Inc. Louis T. Leonowens (Thailand) is a member of Getz Group of Companies. The company still lives on.
The original safe.
There's a freelance gent sometimes in attendance on the grounds who will show you around.
It is well worth a wander. Oh what a life those early colonial teak traders lived!
Louis T. Leonowens Mansion(à¸à¹à¸²à¸à¸«à¸¥à¸¸à¸¢à¸ªà¹) · 7GV4+HVR, Tambon Wiang Nuea, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang 52000, Thailand
7GV4+HVR, Tambon Wiang Nuea, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang 52000, Thailand
maps.app.goo.gl
In 1920 the timber for The Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha) renovation in Bangkok was donated by the Louis T. Leonowens company in Bangkok.
See also:
Louis T. Leonowens - Wikipedia
Lampang: the Louis Leonowens House Handcrafted and Customized Tours
Lampang: the Louis Leonowens House Table of Contents The Louis Leonowens House in LampangThe Louis Leonowens House is the former residence of Louis T. Chiang Mai a la Carte is a specialist in handcrafted and customized tours in Thailand
www.chiangmai-alacarte.com
Our History
The company started as Getz Bros, a California wholesale store in 1852 to a formal company in 1871, to off-shore trading in the 1880's, to its present leadership role in marketing and distribution activities.
Some Teak logging info for those intertested.
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