Fort Cornwallis (George Town)
Malaysia /
Pulau Pinang /
Butterworth /
George Town
World
/ Malaysia
/ Pulau Pinang
/ Butterworth
World / Malaysia / Perak
fortification, listed building / architectural heritage, 1800s construction, star fort
Fort Cornwallis - named after the Governor-General in Bengal, Charles Cornwallis – is one of the most interesting historical landmarks in George Town.
Originally a wooden structure, it was rebuilt between 1808 and 1810 by convict labour. Protruding from the fort's rampart are cannons retrieved by the British from pirates who had captured them from the Johore Sultanate. The fort's walls, roughly 10 feet high, are laid out in star-like formation. A stroll along the perimeters takes roughly 10 minutes. Inside the fort, one can still see some of the original structures built over a century ago, including a chapel, prison cells, which were once used as barracks, a munitions storage area, a harbour light once used to signal incoming ships, the original flagstaff and several old bronze canons, one of which is a Dutch canon called the Seri Rambai, dated 1603. An interesting note about the Seri Rambai - some locals believe that this particular canon can have a positive effect on a woman's fertility, according to local belief, childless women can conceive by placing flowers in its barrel and offering special prayers. The fort is also used as an amphitheatre.
The 60-foot King Edward Circus Clock Tower built at the entrance to the the fort was presented to the town by a local millionaire in 1897 in conjunction with Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, each foot signifying one year of her reign. Both structures above are at the Esplanade.
Originally a wooden structure, it was rebuilt between 1808 and 1810 by convict labour. Protruding from the fort's rampart are cannons retrieved by the British from pirates who had captured them from the Johore Sultanate. The fort's walls, roughly 10 feet high, are laid out in star-like formation. A stroll along the perimeters takes roughly 10 minutes. Inside the fort, one can still see some of the original structures built over a century ago, including a chapel, prison cells, which were once used as barracks, a munitions storage area, a harbour light once used to signal incoming ships, the original flagstaff and several old bronze canons, one of which is a Dutch canon called the Seri Rambai, dated 1603. An interesting note about the Seri Rambai - some locals believe that this particular canon can have a positive effect on a woman's fertility, according to local belief, childless women can conceive by placing flowers in its barrel and offering special prayers. The fort is also used as an amphitheatre.
The 60-foot King Edward Circus Clock Tower built at the entrance to the the fort was presented to the town by a local millionaire in 1897 in conjunction with Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, each foot signifying one year of her reign. Both structures above are at the Esplanade.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Cornwallis
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 5°25'13"N 100°20'37"E
- Nagoya Area 625 km
- Ancient city of Banteai Prei Nokor 926 km
- Sukhothai - old city [Sukhothai historical park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)] 1294 km
- Hue Outer city wall 1462 km
- Kengtung city walls 1770 km
- Co Loa citadel - Outer wall 1847 km
- Historical Co Loa 1847 km
- Old city walls of Mrauk U 1860 km
- Waithali/Vesali 1868 km
- Dhanyawadi 1893 km
- Padang Kota Lama 0.2 km
- Beach Street Central Business District 0.6 km
- Convent Light Street 0.7 km
- St. Xavier's Institution, Penang 0.8 km
- George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site 0.9 km
- Island Girls' School 1.7 km
- Northam Central Business District 2 km
- Penang 7.7 km
- Coastal waters of Penang island 11 km
- Penang Island 11 km
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