European House #IL52 (was IL58), Cheung Chau. [????- ]

Submitted by Aldi on
Current condition
Ruin

On the 1938 Cheung Chau map, the lot number for this house looks like 58, and 9A2W3716 has pointed out that this could be the lot number IL 52, which David has confirmed.

Submitted by ChenQiao on Mon, 04/05/2021 - 18:06

This house is to the south of #11 house in the SE corner of the island. 

When you walk from #11 house you may first find it some steps down the hill.

                                    North Profile Remains of #58 House Cheung Chau         
                                                                                       North Profile

 

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Submitted by 9A2W3716 on Thu, 06/10/2021 - 03:33

I visited the 2 houses in recent years. (#11 and IL52)
 
House mentioned in this thread is marked as "CCIL 52" on GeoInfo Map. 
I guess the number marked on 1938 map/boundary stones should be "52".
 
It seems that the finishes , tiles and style of this house is more modern than #11 house. 
In my visits, this house was vacant. Only some concrete blocks, woods and core samples were on the floor.
 
Below is the map of CCIL 52 house with photo angles (taken in 2019):
 
                                         CCIL52_MAP.jpg                                  
 
 
 
Photo A: East Profile, with mosaic tiles                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                             CCIL_East.jpg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 
 
                                   Photo B: Verandah of the house
                               CCIL52_VAR.jpg

 

 

 

                                      Photo C: Interior 1

                                    CCIL52_INNER1.jpg                                                             
 
 
 
                                              Photo D: Interior 2
                                             CCIL52_INNER2.jpg


 

Photos that show this Place

HKMaps 1963.5 crop CC houses 7 - 24 numbered
1963
Houses 12 - 18 HK Maps aerial 1963.2
1963
CCIL_East.jpg
2019
See more photos of this place

Comments

[Updated 2/Sept/2026]

This house was built in the 20th century when Cheung Chau was found to have desirable qualities similar to The Peak for holiday villas.  

It looks to have been built with reinforced concrete and rendered brick.  Most of the other houses were built of granite.  Another unusual feature is that on the east side the external walls are covered with mosaic tiles. 

The house has a flat reinforced concrete roof, which may have been designed for water collection, and a verandah at the front, which is south-facing, with views out to the islands in the south. There is an iron ladder giving access to the roof.

Unusually the verandah has slim reinforced concrete pillars rather than more solid stone pillars. It has metal window and door frames.

Domestics' accommodation was at the rear.

There was a house numbered 11A on Cheung Chau.  Due to its proximity to House 11, House IL52 is a good candidate for this number.  In 1940 it was said to be a new house (see below).  This could be why it doesn't appear in the 1938 list of owners.

                                                        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

This item posted by moddsey on House 11 page, Sun, 05/17/2026 - 04:27

On 3 March 1940, a huge explosion took place at the southeast corner of Cheung Chau. The explosion was caused by a drifting mine detonating on the rocks below House #11. Many houses (possibly 10) were damaged due to flying shrapnel, rock and glass.

Mention is also made of a new building, House #11A being covered in black substance likely due to the effects of detonation. House #11A belonged to the military.

Sources

  1. Hong Kong Daily Press (see https://archive.org/details/NPDP19400304/mode/2up?q=cheung+chau) and 
  2. China Mail (see https://archive.org/details/NPCM19400304/page/n1/mode/2up?q=cheung+chau) 4 March 1940.