Fort Canning (Chinese: 福康宁; pinyin: Fúkāngníng, Malay:Bukit Larangan, Tamil : Pokamutiyatha Arasarin Malai ),: is a small hill slightly more than 60 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore, within the Central Area that forms Singapore's central business district. Although small in physical size, it has a long history intertwined with that of the city-state due to its location as the highest elevation within walking distance to the city's civic district within the Downtown Core.
Early
history
The hill was recorded as Bukit Larangan prior to the
arrival of Stamford Raffles in 1819, which means "Forbidden Hill"
in Malay. Raffles was told of how local settlers were wary of
ascending the hill as they believed it was the site of palaces
built by their ancestral kings. The Keramat Iskandar Shah at the
foot of the hill was believed to be the resting place of the last
Malay king of the island, and was venerated by Muslims.
When some of the vegetation was removed, ruins of ancient brick
buildings were revealed, validating these folk legends. Little
could be known from these ruins, however, or that of the hill's
ancient history. Contemporary archaeological excavation has,
however, built up more evidence of its role, and that of Singapore
as a whole. Relics were uncovered on the hill suggesting the
existence of a regional trading hub prior to their destruction by
invading foreign forces since the 14th century, and the possible
site of the hill as the centre of this trading post.
Settlement and
fortification
Impressed by the historic significance of the hill, and the
commanding view it offered over the colony he had established,
Raffles built his first residence on the hill. A keen botanist, he
also built Singapore's first botanical garden there in 1822. The
residence served as the colony's governors, thus subsequently
earning the name Government
Hill.
By late 1859, increased security concerns led to the hill taking
on a military role with the demolition of the governor's residence,
and the building of a fort with an arms store,
barracks and a hospital. The fort was named Fort Canning after
Viscount Charles John Canning, who was then Governor-General and
the first Viceroy of India. Government Hill was thus named after
the fort, and has remained so ever since even after the end of its
military role more than a century later.
Under the British Army, the fort served as the headquarters of
the Singapore Base District until the spread of World War II into
the Asia Pacific in 1941. In February 1942, Lieutenant-General
Arthur Ernest Percival established his command post of the Malayan
Command at the fort in his ill-fated attempts to defend the island
from the invading Japanese forces. The Japanese also used the fort
for its military until the end of the occupation in 1945, whereby
the British army resumed control. The bunker is now a visitor
attraction known as The Battle Box.
As the island moved towards self-determination, the British
handed over control of the fort to the Singaporean military in
1963, and was home to the headquarters of the 4th Malaysian
Infantry Brigade until December 1966 when it was in turn handed
over to the Singapore Armed Forces. The SAF proceeded to build the
Singapore Command and Staff College on the fort, which officially
opened on 13 February 1970.
Fort Canning
today
Now a park overlooking
Orchard Road and
set in the heart of the Civic and Cultural District of Singapore,
Fort Canning offers a variety of recreational activities,
historical, educational, entertainment and cultural experiences.
The park also serves as an important green lung for Singapore's
downtown city area. The unique blend of historical relics, lush
greenery and expansive lawns has made Fort Canning a hub of
cultural and artistic activity. It has been a venue of choice for
staging a myriad of outdoor events and activities like theatre
carnivals, art festivals, starlight
cinemas and Ballet Under the Stars performances. WOMAD,
Singapore's largest music festival, has been
a regular feature of the park's calendar of events since 1998. The
Fort Canning Tunnel passes directly under the hill.
Highlights
-
Spice Garden: The garden is a replica of the first
experimental botanical garden in Singapore established by Sir
Stamford Raffles. Raffles had noble ambitions for Singapore's
agricultural development, and had sent from Bencoolen spices like
clove plants and nutmeg
seeds to be planted in the garden.
-
Gothic Gates: These imposing and sombre gateways in
gothic style lead the visitor into Fort Canning Green, where a
Christian cemetery
used to stand. Built in 1846, these gates have since become a
landmark of Fort
Canning Hill. The letters above both gates - IHS - standing for
Iota Heta Sigm, the first three letters of the Greek word
for Jesus.
-
Fort Canning Green: The frequent outdoor concerts and
carnivals now held at Fort Canning Green believe the fact that the
area was once a graveyard for some
600 Christian graves. The only graves
left are at the far end of the Green (near the Drama Centre). Some
tombstones that were
removed were set into the walls surrounding Fort
Canning Green.
-
Cupolas: The cupolas, designed by
George Drumgoole Coleman, were probably places of rest. The word
'cupola' means a small dome-shaped roof or ceiling. George Coleman
was a talented architect who left his mark on the urban landscape
of Singapore. He was Raffles' consultant on Singapore's first town
plan. As Superintendent of Public Works, he oversaw projects of
land reclamation and construction of roads and landmarks such as
the Armenian
Church.
-
James Brooke Napier Memorial: Dedicated to James Brooke
Napier, the infant son of William Napier, who was Singapore's first
Law Agent, and Maria
Frances Napier, the widow of George Coleman. The memorial was the
largest erected in the cemetery, reflecting the status of William
Napier.
-
Fort Canning Centre: The Fort Canning Centre used to be
the barracks of the
British Army. The British Army chose Fort Canning as its
headquarters of its defence bases in the 1920s to protect British
interests in Southeast Asia. It is now the home of the Singapore
Dance Theatre.
-
Underground Far East Command Centre (The Battle Box):
During the Second World War, Lieutenant General Arthur Ernest
Percival (Commander of British Forces) used the underground bunkers
at Fort Canning as his commanding base.
-
Sally Port: The sally port is a small hidden door that
leads into or out of a fort, allowing occupants
to escape from the fort undetected. Fort Canning had at least three
sally ports but only one remains today.
-
Fort Wall and Gate: Raffles, in a letter to William
Farquhar in 1819, on the suitability of building a fortress on
Government Hill: " …On the hill overlooking the Settlement, and
commanding it and a considerable portion of the anchorage, a small
Fort, capable of mounting 8 or 10 pounders and of containing a
magazine off brick or stone, together with a barrack for the
permanent residence of 30 European artillery, and of temporary
accommodation of the rest of the garrison in case of
emergency."
-
9-Pound Cannon: One of a pair of cannons that was meant
to shoot 9-pound cannon balls. Playing a decorative role rather
than a defensive one, the cannon was fired three times a day at 5
a.m., 1 p.m., and 9 p.m. to announce the hour. It was also fired as
a salute and warning of town fires. Next to the cannon is South
Battery, the site at which the main battery of guns was mounted to
defend Singapore in the 19th century.
-
Raffles' House: Raffles built his house on Government
Hill on his third and last visit to Singapore. "We have lately
built a small bungalow on Singapore Hill where, though the height
is inconsiderable, we find a great difference in climate. Nothing
can be more interesting and beautiful than the view from this spot.
The tombs of the Malay Kings are close at hand, and I have settled
that if it is my fate to die here I shall take my place amongst
them: this will at any rate be better than leaving my bones at
Bencoolen…" - Raffles in a letter to William Marsden in
1823.
-
Keramat Iskandar Shah: Keramat Iskandar Shah is a sacred
place dedicated to Iskandar Shah (also known as Parameswara before
he converted to Islam), the last ruler
of 14th century Singapore before he fled to Melaka to escape an
attack from the Siamese. Although named after him, scholars thought
that the keramat could not be Iskandar Shah's tomb
as he had died in Melaka.
-
Archaeological Excavation Site: In 1984, archaeologist
John Miksic and his team began an archaeological excavation that
continues until today. Among the artefacts recovered were
porcelain, earthenware and glass shards. These
artefacts show that there could have been a Malay kingdom on Fort
Canning Hill, with possibility of glass and gold
workshops.
See also
External
links