Broadwood Road came into being in 1915 and was an exclusive development of elegant colonial-style houses, either bungalows or two-storey, on the Broadwood ridge. Because of their raised elevation, these houses enjoyed cooling breezes and pleasing views, and were built with the wealthy in mind.
Numbers 9 and 10 were 2 storeys and were different from the rest because they were semi-detached. They were built in 1915-16 by C E Warren and Co Ltd. Architect Charles Warren liked the ridge development enough to own two properties himself later on. Number 20, the Towers, was the finest on the ridge.
These houses typically had several rooms with kitchen, two bathrooms and servants' quarters. They were constructed from locally cut granite blocks and concrete, with timber rafters. They were painted white, and would have gleamed brightly when newly painted. The granite walls would have kept temperatures cooler in summer and provided sturdy security in the typhoon season.
Occupants lived extremely comfortable lifestyles, with the services of an amah and a cook. For many years access anywhere would have been by rickshaw. Even when cars became more commonplace, Broadwood Road was just a single track road, certainly up to the 1960s.
Because they were built on a ridge they had superb views not only to the front and rear of the house (Happy Valley/the Peak/Wanchai/the harbour, and to the east the So Kon Po Valley/ Jardine's lookout), but because of the extra floor, views north to Kowloon and south towards the Wong Nei Chung Gap.
Today 9/10 Broadwood Road no longer exists. The two towers of the Villa Rocha have taken its place, possibly Block A.
More can be found on the first Broadwood Road owners here.
Comments
Belvedere 2
Nos. 9 and 10 Broadwood Road were known as Belvedere 1 and Belvedere 2 respectively. They were located in I.L. 1947 Section K. The original owner was Alfred Walters, chief engineer of Charles Baudouin steam ships. The two houses were bought by Wong Yee Chung in January 1920. Another name, Wo Kwung, appears as the rate payer in 1924, but by 1927-28 it was again Wong Yee Chung.