KIRKOSWALD

Originally initiated with 165 acres of Coffee plantation and with the devastation of Coffee plantations in Ceylon from 1869 to 1900 due to a fungal disease of “Hemileia Vastatrix” known as Coffee leaf fungus Kirkoswald also would have been converted in to a Tea Plantation and was owned by Bogawantalawa District Tea Company Limited, a Company which was founded in 1897 and were managing 2558 acres in Ceylon with tea planted extent of 2327, under the Stewardship of its Chairman Mr. A C Matthew and under the Directorate of Captain C.F.C. Fetherstonhaugh and W.H. Miles, with the managing agents of J M Roberts and Company Limited.

According to some records 1872 to 1875 Mr D Stewart was the manager of this property and thereafter till 1892 it was under the management of A Fertherstonhaugh. And there after no records available till 1925, from 1925 to 1948 property has been managed by G H Sparkes under the management of George Steuart and company and till 1965 C L N Anley. 1965 to 1972 the property has been taken over by COL. Derick Nugawela, the first Ceylonese plantation Manager in Bogawantalawa valley under the management of George Steuart and company.

Situated 167 Kms away from Colombo in the central province of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) it was a small estate under property ownership and was sold to Bogawantalawa District Tea Company along with Elbedde Estate its immediate neighbour. Both properties were ideally situated for cultivation of Tea and with the amalgamation of Elbedde the extended under tea increase. It had a very difficult labour force and labour troubles continues even up to today

Kirkoswald is among a cluster of world-famous tea plantations all situated well around the upper limit of the high grown elevation. The enchantment of the view is in the setting of waterfalls with rugged back ground of rocks with tea gardens at various elevations towering above them.

Kirkoswald is well sheltered from the harsh treatment of the monsoon winds, to the south is the peak wilderness sanctuary one of the perennial forests of the country that can boast of having taken care of a wide variety of flora and fauna. More to the east is Horton plains where some of the most renowned attractions such as baker’s waterfall and world’s end are located, to the north west the famous Adam’s peak referred to by the locals as “SriPada” (sacred footprint of lord Buddha”)