THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN MUSCAT
Most of the buildings in the compound (comprising the Chancery, the Ambassador's Residence on the first floor of the Chancery building, the Head of Chancery's House and three staff flats) were built by the Government of India in 1890, on the sea front in old Muscat, between the Sultan's ceremonial palace (The Al Alam Palace) and a 15th century fort built by the Portuguese. The Commercial offices of the Embassy are sited in Ruwi, the commercial centre of Muscat, about six miles away.
The East India Company agreed with the Imam in 1800 that they should maintain a Resident in Muscat. But the earliest indication of land acquisition held in our archives are copies of Government of India Public Works Department proceedings of September 1878, recording agreement to the purchase of a house for the British Agency. We believe that this property may have comprised part of the present compound. Further properties, possibly also part of the present compound, were acquired by the Government of India in 1901.
The compound is being renovated.
