英駐蕪領(ling)事(shi)署位(wei)于蕪湖市新蕪區范(fan)羅山。清光(guang)緒三(san)年(nian)(1877年(nian)),英國(guo)人在范(fan)羅山山腰(yao)至山頂,陸續監造了(le)3座(zuo)西式(shi)二(er)層(ceng)樓(lou)房(fang),均(jun)為券(quan)廊(lang)(lang)式(shi)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)木結構。其主(zhu)建(jian)筑(zhu)坐北(bei)朝南,面(mian)闊25.38米(mi),進深17.10米(mi),高9.70米(mi),建(jian)筑(zhu)面(mian)積近900平方(fang)米(mi)。東、南、西三(san)面(mian)均(jun)有(you)(you)深達(da)3.5米(mi)的拱(gong)券(quan)回廊(lang)(lang),廊(lang)(lang)柱挺拔(ba),圓券(quan)清秀,建(jian)筑(zhu)物下(xia)部為石砌基座(zuo),廊(lang)(lang)柱以優質紅磚(zhuan)(zhuan)砌筑(zhu)。四(si)面(mian)坡頂采用(yong)(yong)深色瓦楞鐵皮屋(wu)面(mian),配以白色門廊(lang)(lang)石柱和連續拱(gong)券(quan),拱(gong)頂夾砌青(qing)磚(zhuan)(zhuan),色彩搭配協(xie)調柔和。南面(mian)有(you)(you)主(zhu)入(ru)口(kou),東西兩側(ce)有(you)(you)次入(ru)口(kou),大樓(lou)之間(jian)為八角形大廳(ting),大廳(ting)兩面(mian)各有(you)(you)2間(jian)辦公用(yong)(yong)房(fang),每間(jian)皆(jie)有(you)(you)壁爐。大廳(ting)后面(mian)有(you)(you)裝(zhuang)潢考(kao)究(jiu)的三(san)折木樓(lou)梯,通(tong)(tong)往(wang)(wang)二(er)樓(lou)領(ling)事(shi)官用(yong)(yong)房(fang)。樓(lou)梯平臺下(xia)側(ce)有(you)(you)出(chu)口(kou)通(tong)(tong)往(wang)(wang)后院附(fu)屬用(yong)(yong)房(fang),西北(bei)角另(ling)有(you)(you)輔助樓(lou)梯通(tong)(tong)往(wang)(wang)三(san)層(ceng)閣樓(lou),登此,可以通(tong)(tong)過6個(ge)老虎(hu)窗觀察四(si)面(mian)八方(fang)。
第(di)二座(zuo)為民國(guo)初期建筑。 面向東南,2層(ceng)樓,6開間,面闊34.4米,進深13.5米,層(ceng)高3.5米。紅磚墻(qiang),外(wai)走廊(lang),長方門,百(bai)葉窗,內(nei)有壁爐(lu)。
第三座也是民國初期建筑,坐北朝南(nan),2層樓,7開間,面寬20米,進深17.2米,層高3.5米。紅磚墻,外走廊,拱(gong)券門,百葉窗。
英駐蕪領事(shi)署和領事(shi)官邸開創了(le)蕪湖近代建(jian)(jian)筑風氣之先。李(li)艷(yan)天(tian)告(gao)訴記者(zhe),此(ci)類(lei)西(xi)洋(yang)式建(jian)(jian)筑在我省留存(cun)很少,它延(yan)續了(le)建(jian)(jian)筑文化(hua)之脈絡,設計中采用了(le)中西(xi)建(jian)(jian)筑文化(hua)共存(cun)的(de)手法(fa),建(jian)(jian)筑結構使(shi)用磚木(mu)混合結構。精妙(miao)的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑技藝,耐久的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑材(cai)料(liao)和經(jing)典建(jian)(jian)筑形式,和諧統一(yi),是外來文化(hua)與本土文化(hua)碰撞(zhuang)的(de)產物(wu)。
清光緒二年(nian)(1876),根據《中(zhong)(zhong)英(ying)(ying)(ying)煙(yan)臺條約》,蕪湖被迫開埠,此后,英(ying)(ying)(ying)國(guo)(guo)人陸續在范羅山南(nan)坡(po)及(ji)附近(jin)的雨(yu)耕山上,依地勢建(jian)(jian)(jian)起(qi)四幢極具英(ying)(ying)(ying)倫(lun)風格(ge)的建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑,供英(ying)(ying)(ying)國(guo)(guo)駐(zhu)(zhu)蕪領(ling)事(shi)署及(ji)稅務(wu)司使用(yong)。它們分別是(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)1877年(nian)的英(ying)(ying)(ying)國(guo)(guo)駐(zhu)(zhu)蕪領(ling)事(shi)署領(ling)事(shi)辦公樓(lou)、建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)1887年(nian)的英(ying)(ying)(ying)國(guo)(guo)駐(zhu)(zhu)蕪領(ling)事(shi)署官邸、建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)1912年(nian)的總(zong)稅務(wu)司辦公樓(lou)和(he)建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)民(min)國(guo)(guo)初年(nian)的洋員(yuan)幫(bang)辦樓(lou)。這(zhe)其中(zhong)(zhong),英(ying)(ying)(ying)國(guo)(guo)駐(zhu)(zhu)蕪領(ling)事(shi)署是(shi)蕪湖最早(zao)的近(jin)代西洋建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑,由英(ying)(ying)(ying)國(guo)(guo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑設(she)計師精(jing)心打造,無論外觀(guan),還是(shi)內部設(she)施都(dou)很精(jing)美,它也是(shi)早(zao)期一批(pi)西方列(lie)強在中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)興建(jian)(jian)(jian)的使館建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑。
英(ying)駐(zhu)蕪(wu)領(ling)事(shi)署辦(ban)公(gong)樓(lou)(lou)坐落于(yu)范羅山(shan)一(yi)處小山(shan)頭上,相(xiang)對獨立于(yu)附(fu)近(jin)其他建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這(zhe)(zhe)幢辦(ban)公(gong)樓(lou)(lou)在(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)四幢西(xi)洋建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)中設計(ji)(ji)得最(zui)(zui)(zui)為精美,做工也最(zui)(zui)(zui)為講究,據說(shuo),它的(de)設計(ji)(ji)圖紙和建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)工程師(shi)均(jun)來自英(ying)國(guo)本土。無論(lun)是(shi)(shi)占地面(mian)積,還(huan)是(shi)(shi)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)面(mian)積,這(zhe)(zhe)座(zuo)辦(ban)公(gong)樓(lou)(lou)都是(shi)(shi)四幢西(xi)洋建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)中最(zui)(zui)(zui)大的(de)。據《蕪(wu)湖(hu)百(bai)年(nian)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)》介紹:“1877年(nian),英(ying)國(guo)政府在(zai)地勢高敞、林蔭如蓋的(de)范羅山(shan)建(jian)造了領(ling)事(shi)署辦(ban)公(gong)樓(lou)(lou)。由(you)英(ying)國(guo)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)師(shi)設計(ji)(ji),券(quan)廊(lang)(lang)式建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。兩層磚木結構,坐北朝南(nan),東西(xi)對稱。占地面(mian)積466平(ping)方米,建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)面(mian)積1190平(ping)方米。東、西(xi)、南(nan)三(san)向設有外廊(lang)(lang),青石砌筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)露明基座(zuo),平(ping)面(mian)方正,典雅大方,是(shi)(shi)蕪(wu)湖(hu)最(zui)(zui)(zui)早的(de)西(xi)洋建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),也是(shi)(shi)安徽省最(zui)(zui)(zui)早的(de)外國(guo)領(ling)署建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。”另據民國(guo)八(ba)年(nian)《灣沚區(qu)志》記(ji)載(zai):“英(ying)領(ling)事(shi)署在(zai)范羅山(shan)。因《煙臺(tai)條(tiao)約》,于(yu)光緒三(san)年(nian),由(you)英(ying)國(guo)領(ling)事(shi)官(guan)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)新式樓(lou)(lou)房一(yi)座(zuo),四圍繞以垣墻,以為領(ling)事(shi)官(guan)辦(ban)公(gong)之地。”