Le Colonial, by the Chinese fishing nets of Cochin is probably Asia's oldest colonial house- dating back to 1506. Just adjacent to St. Francis Church, it is reputed to have housed Vasco da Gama and the Saint. After 150 years as the Protuguese Governer's home, it was one of the rare houses not to be destroyed when Dutch took Fort Cochin. It housed the Dutch Governors for century and a half till Ian vas Spall sold it to the British in 1795, who in turn, passed it to J.Thomas, the legendary English trader of tea.