Gorden Road Station

Nestled on Jiangning Lu, the former Gordon Road, stands the imposing Gorden Road Station. This isn’t just another building. It’s a time capsule, whispering tales of old Shanghai. Originally built around 1908, Gorden Road Station served as the training ground for the Shanghai Municipal Police. Imagine new recruits arriving, fresh off the boat, ready to tackle the bustling streets of Shanghai. This station, also known as the Gordon Road Training Depot or Western Depot, was where they learned the ropes. They drilled on a large parade ground, a space now lost to the city’s growth. The surrounding area, once countryside, gradually filled with factories and houses throughout the 1920s and 30s. Inside the station, Sikh and Chinese officers bunked alongside their English counterparts, all undergoing rigorous training. The curriculum was intense. It mirrored military training and included lessons about Shanghai, police procedures, and the crucial Shanghai dialect. F.L. Hawks Pott’s “Lessons in Shanghai dialect” was their textbook. Pott, president of Saint John University, understood the importance of local language in policing a diverse city. After all, many Shanghainese residents spoke neither English nor Mandarin. Mastering the dialect was key to effective communication and career advancement within the force. Gorden Road Station played a pivotal role in shaping the police force of old Shanghai. The “bobbies,” in their familiar English uniforms, became a common sight, often accompanied by Sikh subordinates. Though photos of Sikh officers are plentiful, images of English policemen on the Bund are surprisingly rare. Gorden Road Station stands as a testament to a bygone era. It’s a reminder of the rigorous training and the diverse force that once kept the peace in the International Settlement.