via Thai PBS, 27 September 2022: The ‘historic’ city wall that collapsed due to rain last week was not the original strcture, but one built 80 years ago.
A retired fine arts lecturer at Chiang Mai University has claimed that the ancient Chiang Mai city wall and Chang Phuak Gate, which partially collapsed due to heavy rain last weekend, are not the original wall and gate built over seven centuries ago, but were rebuilt only about 80 years ago.
Emeritus Professor Surapol Damrikul said in his Facebook post today (Monday) that it was fortunate that the wall partially collapsed, so people in Chiang Mai would know that this wall and gate were rebuilt and were an eyesore on a historical site.
He claimed that the entire ancient city wall and gates were destroyed and all the old bricks sold long ago and that they were eventually rebuilt some 80 years ago by then Chiang Mai mayor Tim Chotna without any historical basis.
