Abstract
Two Consulates of Russia in 1860 and of Britain in 1863 were among the earliest Western style buildings in Hakodate built immediately after 1859 when the city had opened her port for free trade simulteneously with Yokohama and Nagasaki. While of the former is known almost nothing, of the latter we have three drawings of plan in the Hakodate Municipal Library, although the erroneously noted dates of its erection and destruction by fire have caused certain confusion to survey the records concerning its building process. In May, 1860, C. P. Hodgson, first British Consul in Hakodate, contracted to rent a lot in Motomachi. The plans were drawn around September, 1861, after certain delay caused by recall of the Consul, besides technical difficulty to realize never experienced type of building. Works began only in March, 1862, when they ordered to import glass, locks, bolts etc., and were completed in April of the following year. But the building did not seem to satisfy the residents who complained of several matters, including 'the stove-pipes, that are altogether too small, in every way, not placed securely, as well as being so close to the timbers in the roof, that the whole building might be burnt and destroyed'. This prediction by Consul S. H. Wyse was unfortunately to become actual two years later, in February, 1865. Outline of the building will be studied in the sequel.
