袁氏大屋

袁氏大屋，左方為東更樓。

袁氏大屋（Yuen's Mansion），又名「餘德利圍」，是一座位於香港大嶼山梅窩涌口橋頭村的特色古屋。該古屋建於1920至1940年代。在2009年12月18日評定為二級歷史建築，建築群共包含主屋（編號241）、前屋（編號245）、穀倉（編號246）、東更樓（編號242）、西更樓（編號244）及鄰接東更樓的小屋（編號243）。

袁氏大屋是由中國國民黨前委員袁華照所建，二次大戰時期曾發揮暸望及防禦日軍侵襲的功能。該屋的一部份現時已荒廢，另一部份則為附近渡假屋的工人宿舍。該屋仍存有大炮一台。梅窩四大更樓（瞭望台）便是由這兩座更樓、鹿地塘更樓和蝴蝶山已坍塌的更樓所組成。

該屋目前屬於私人地方，現在的業主是袁家第三代繼承人袁哲之，一般情況下禁止外人進入。

交通

• 從梅窩巴士總站步行約20分鐘。
• 乘坐3M巴士到銀灣邨，步行約5-7分鐘

附近景點

• 銀河

資料來源

3. Useful information (THESIS FREE TO DOWNLOAD from HKU library websites) University of Hong Kong Thesis on this heritage 袁氏大屋: Website: HKU Scholars Hub. HKU Theses Online AUTHOR (Architect): Lee, Chung-ming, Eric. 李仲明 TITLE: 'The vanishing watchtower farmhouse discovering the cultural significance of a historical vernacular landscape in Mui Wo, Lantau Island'. NATURE: Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong YEAR: 2005

P.28 'The architecture of the stone watchtower is an exceptional example of atypical design when compared to most of the other watchtowers in other villages. Unlike other typical villages, none of the buildings were being aligned in a straight line or parallel or perpendicular to each other. Instead, they were articulated in such a unusual way that each building is offset at an offset angle to each other.'

P.29 'The stone watchtower and stone farmhouses clustered to form an atypical fortified vernacular settlement. Very defensive in nature, the setting and alignment of buildings are purposely designed not parallel but offset from each other, thus creating many hidden corners and distracted vista...'

P.29 '... the characteristic obstructed sightline, recessed openings, hidden corners, change of levels, reversed position of dwellings, verandah and flat roofs overlooking open space, odd layout and alignment of buildings, all designed to help defend invaders' progression into the interior of the farmhouse. This kind of defensive layout, which is uncommon among local villages, resembles that of a medieval fortified complex.'