"Red Roofs" [c.1934-c.1954]

Submitted by LizB on Sat, 02/27/2021 - 03:14
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)
Date closed / demolished
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)

"Red Roofs" (Lot number N.K.I.L. 1360) was on a relatively large plot of land in Ngau Chi Wan, located on modern day Hammer Hill Road. By 1955, this was the location of a development of several low-rise residences known as Ka Wah Terrace, and another (shorter) row of buildings to the south. It's possible that the upper portion of N.K.I.L. 1360 is now occupied by the Chi Lin Nunnery development (ca 1998), while the lower portion of the plot is occupied by both Hammer Hill Park and the large roundabout adjacent to the park. 

"Red Roofs" is mentioned as the residence of George A.V. Hall (Architect, Way & Hall) in the 1935 & 1936 Jurors Lists.

A 1934 satellite photo of the area appears to show the outline of at least one building, a tennis court and other signs of landscaping on the site, so the estimated completion date has been put at the end of that year. 

Later place(s) at this location
Ka Wah Terrace [c.1954-????]

Comments

I well remember visits to Red Roofs in 1940 when it was the residence of the Tipple family (page 64 Lost in the Battle for Hong Kong).  I understand that Mr. Tipple was the Chief Engineer for KMB at the time. The Tipples were married in St. Andrew's Church on Nathan Road. Dorothy Tipple had two children about my age, Lesley and Berry. Lesley, Berry's sister, is presently living in Christchurch in the UK, and Berry is retired from Qantus living in Australia.

I woinder if this is the same Red Roofs?

Hi Bob,

This is possible, as the previous occupants of 'Red Roofs' (George Hall & family) had moved away to another part of Hong Kong by then. I realise it was a long time ago, but do you happen to remember whether the 'Red Roofs' you visited was in the part of Kowloon shown on the map? (in Ngau Chi Wan, which is not far from the old Kai Tak airport.) The marker on the map is only approximate, as I am still trying to confirm the actual location, but I think it was somewhere in this area. 

Thanks,

Liz

Yes Liz, because Mr. Tipple also seemed active in Kai Tak. I think he was also involved with Gilman Motors. I can obtain more detailed information from Lesley in the UK if you wish. I recall the house was located on quite a large parcel of land, and they had a permanent Fah Wong taking care of the grounds. I was very impressed with their pond full of gold fish and Lesley used to love looking at the "Amah" on the distant hill. I was about 8 years old at the time. 

 

Thank you, Bob, this is very interesting, and thanks for sharing the evocative memories. The connections the Tipple family may have had with Kai Tak are promising in terms of the location. Looking at old maps of the area, Ngau Chi Wan seems to have been sparsely populated, so 'Red Roofs' may well have been on a large plot. 

Cheers, Liz

The following advertisement appears on page 5 of the SCMP for 6 Dec 1935:

FOR SALE.—“Red-Roofs”, N.K.I.L. 1360, Diamond Hill, seven-room European residence, detached servants' quarters, modern conveniences, hot and cold water installations, electric lighting, telephone, extensive grounds, 33,000 sq ft., including full size tennis court, flower and vegetable gardens, pergolas, aviary and pool. Motor drive from Sai Kung Road. Please apply to Messrs. Way & Hall, Architects, Kayamally Building.

Thanks, David, it's good to have this extra information. I've been looking for the house on old maps of the Ngau Chi Wan area without success, but will take in Diamond Hill as well. Lot numbers are given on very few of the maps, so it makes it a bit more challenging. Perhaps the 'Sai Kung Road' referred to in the ad is the modern day Clearwater Bay Road. I'll keep looking into it. Cheers, Liz

Hello again Bob,

It would actually be very interesting to hear more about the Tipple family's time living in the Ngau Chi Wan/Diamond Hill area. May I take you up on your offer to contact Lesley, to ask her if she'd be willing to share some childhood memories about it, please? 

Thanks very much, Liz

 

Having checked the HK Land Registry Street Index records, the large plot of land at N.K.I.L. 1360 is located at 135 Hammer Hill Road/former Ka Wah Terrace (now the site of Hammer Hill Park). It appears 'Red Roofs' was demolished sometime in the 1940s/50s. By 1955 it had been replaced by a development comprising 8 residences, known as Ka Wah Terrace. I have moved the location marker.

Hi Liz, I was in touch with Lesley Kilvert (nee Tipple) and asked her if she could share any of her experience  when she was living in Red Roofs. She is not sure if she can find any photographs but believes they are sparse. I guess your interest is for historical puposes, just in case she asks? Bob 

Hi Bob. Thanks for getting in touch with Lesley. I'm interested in her memories of her time at Red Roofs because Ngau Chi Wan would have been a very different place in the 1930s and 1940s, and it's hard to imagine what it would have been like. It was also quite far from the much more built-up areas of Kowloon, so it must have seemed relatively remote then. If Lesley is happy to share any of her memories, I'm sure other readers would also enjoy reading about them. Thanks again, Liz

Yes, I well remember being in the mddle of small vegetable plots managed by the surrounding villagers. There were the odd huts scattered around the fields. Very countryish. Lesley had very fond memories of those days. Their fah wong also managed a small vegetable patch for the household, but of course no night soil was in use, except for those further away. Yes, it was very quiet and located not far from the RAF base at Kai Tak. I'm not sure, but I think Mr. Tipple might have been with the RAF and demobbed in Hong Kong? They were originally from Guernsey, and grandfather was a lighthouse keeper working for the government. He also drove a car which of course impressed many people. The fah wong used to walk Lesley and her brother, Berry, a little distance to the bus stop which took them to school at DGS (primary grade). When I used to visit Red Roofs it was after my mother died in 1939, and in 1940 the family were evacuated to Australia and came back in 1945/46. I remained stuck in Hong Kong for the duration of the Japanese occupation. Roy Kilvert, Lesley's husband, was a career civil servant and had retired before 1997. He recently passed away in the UK and Lesley is still working things out. 

Thanks Bob, it's interesting to read your memories of visits to the Tipple family home. I wonder what happened to the house during the war, and whether it was still there when the family returned afterwards? Lesley might remember. I am fairly sure the house wasn't there anymore by the mid 1950s, which means it might only have stood for approx 20 years. Cheers, Liz 

(Commonwealth Grave Records)

Service Number: EC/5684

Indian Army Ordnance Corps

Date of Death: 08 June 1942

Buried or commemorated at Calcutta (Bhowanipore) Cemetery, Kolkata 

Plot H. Grave 22.

India

Yes, I knew that. After the familiy evacuated to Australia, Captain Tipple went to Shanghai on some military assignment. Before the Japanese attack in December 1941 he was on his way to Australia. He didn't stay long in Australia as the war was heating up in Malaysia and Burma. In Calcutta he was involved in a road accident with Royal Navy personnel, and was killed. That's why he was buried in Calcutta as it was known at the time. Your investigation is quite correct. 

The Tipple family returned to Hong Kong after the war. Dorothy Tipple went to Shanghai to claim family records left behind in care of a police officer when the war started, but was unsuccessful. Returning to Hong Kong she became confidential secretary to Legal Council of the Hongkong Shanghai Bank until her retirement to Bournemouth in the UK. Berry returned to Australia and worked for Qantas and Leslie married Roy Kilvert in Hong Kong. Now you know the rest of the story.

Cheers,

Bob