Johnston's Pier

Johnston's Pier, a jetty, landing-platform for the convenient arrival and departure of sea travellers. It once stood opposite Fullerton Square, and Hong Kong Bank Building at Battery Road and Collyer Quay. Built by the Municipal Commissioners, construction started in early 1854 and was completed on 13 March 1856. In its time many famous dignitaries, including British Royalty and other VIPs first set foot in Singapore on this pier. Johnston's Pier was named after Alexander Laurie Johnston (b. Dumfriesshire S Scotland - d. 19 February 1850, Bluehill. Kircudbright, Scotland), one of the earliest European settlers in Singapore. 

History
For almost fifty years after its founding in 1819, the seafront of Singapore town showed the outhouses and the backs of buildings facing Commercial Square (today's Raffles Place), and the southern shoreline then came up to about where Collyer Quay is today. The shoreline of Singapore town began receding after 1843 when gradual land reclamation and development, slowly extended the coastline.

The Development of a Pier
The building of a ghaut, for the convenience of commercial and shipping interests of the port was first suggested in the "Municipal Commissioners" meeting of 20 July 1853, and "this should be erected without unnecessary delay". The 21 January 1854, Municipal Commissioners meeting, "sanctioned the construction of a pier", to cope with the increasing sea-faring traffic in Singapore. On 9 May 1854, a The Straits Times reader wrote a letter, to remind the authorities to build a pier of "necessary seaward length, so that the landing-platform could be used at low or high tides". Construction of Johnston's Pier started in early 1854 and was completed on 13 March 1856, when Fort Fullerton was being remodelled, and, during the Collyer Quay reclamation and seawall construction (between 1858 to 1864). Work completion of Johnston's Pier was announced to the Municipal Commissioners by Engineer Captain Ronald Macpherson. It was the first major landing point ever constructed, and was extensively used.

Pier Attendant
Initially, a male pier-keeper was engaged at a salary of $6 per month to keep the crane in working order, and to clean and light the lamps on Johnston Pier. A small house was constructed for his accommodation at the inner end of the pier.

Description
A platform made of iron and wood, extending from shore over water, and supported by piles and pillars, the wide platform of the pier reached out to the sea. These landing facilities included a 7-ton crane costing $900. Initially, only the arrival/departure pier-end was covered, and the increasing number of activity, made it necessary to be entirely sheltered. Two handsome, stylishy designed ornamental lamp-posts, with fluted columns, turn-over leaves, and four copper lanterns were ordered from England to add a bit of elegance to its entrance. Another red lamp used to hang at the end of the pier, warning ships as it entered the harbour. Thus Johnston's Pier was popularly known as Lampu Merah or "Red Lamp" in Malay; and also, Ang Teng (the Hokkien, Chinese dialect name) and Lampu Merah and, Ang Teng, also became the name for Clifford Pier.

Famous arrivals on this landing platform
The first VIP visitor was possibly Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, the Duke of Edinburgh on 3 December, 1869. He was accorded a Royal welcome with full military honours, including a brass band, and army troops leading a procession through Battery Road, leading up to Commercial Square (today's Raffles Place), for a reception. Visiting Royalty and other dignitaries were often met with such pomp and circumstance at Johnston's Pier, which was always "dressed-up" for the occasion. The grandiosity of these VIP welcome-events can be seen in some photographs in the book, Singapore: A pictorial history 1819-2000.

Others VIPs included:
King Chulalongkorn of Siam - 16 March 1871, and 30 May 1890. The Elephant Statue was given by him to commemorate the first overseas trip by a Siamese Monarch.
Ex-US President General Ulysses Grant arrived 8:00 am, 1 April 1879.
H.M. King David Kelakaua of Hawaiian Islands arrived 10:15 am, 6 May 1881.
Prince Albert Victor and Prince George of Wales 10 January 1882.
H.R.H. Prince Henry of Prussia, 3.30 pm, 2 January 1900.
Prince Arthur of Connaught, 3 February 1906.
Duke and Duchess of Connaught at 10:00 am, 1 February 1907.
Prince of Wales "Royal Visit" with Lord Louis Mountbatten arrived with a 21-gun salute 31 March 1922. Departed next day 10:00 pm, 1 April 1922 from this pier.
Also renowned writers, Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad.

Johnston's Pier was named after Alexander Laurie Johnston (b. Dumfriesshire S. Scotland - d. 19 February, 1850, Bluehill. Kircudbright, Scotland) a pioneer settler in Singapore, and the company he left behind, A. L. Johnston & Co., was once just across the road about where Hong Kong Bank Building stands today, at the corner of Battery Road and Collyer Quay, opposite Johnston's Pier. The pier was torn down after Clifford Pier was opened on 3 June 1933.

Variant Names
Chinese name: In Hokkien Ang Teng means "Red Light".
Malay name: Lampu merah also means "Red Light".



Author
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama


References 
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore: 1819-1867 (pp. 63, 615, 678, 783). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)

Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1996). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (pp. 393, 453). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 EDW)

Liu, G. (1999). Singapore: A pictorial history 1819-2000 (pp. 40, 56, 57, 94-95, 148, 196). Singapore: Archipelago Press.
(Call no.: SING 959.57 LIU -[HIS]) 

Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol 2, pp. 590, 591, 593, 594, 595, 600, 604, 606). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)

Mialaret, J. P. (1986). Passing through Singapore 1900-1930 = Escales a Singapour 1900-1930 (pp. 6, 7, 57). Singapore: G. Brash.
(Call no,: RSING 769.4995957 MIA) 

Singapore historical postcards from the National Archives collection ([1986). (pp. 10, 19). Singapore: Times Editions.
(Call no.: RSING 769.4995957 SIN)

Tyers, R. K. (1976). Ray Tyers' Singapore: Then and now (pp. 274-275). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE)

Johnstons Ghaut [Microfilm: NL 483]. (1854, May 9). The Straits Times, p. 4.

Municipal Committee meeting [Microfilm: NL 483]. (1854, January 31). The Straits Times, p. 5.

Municipal Committee meeting [Microfilm: NL 2202]. (1853). Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 29 July, The Straits Tmes, p. 3.


Further Readings
Grant [Microfilm: NL 5237]. (1879, April 1). Singapore Daily Times, p. 2.

[Microfilm: NL 309]. (1907, January 31). The Straits Times, p. 7.

[Microfilm: NL 5239]. (1881, May 6). Straits Times, p. 2.

[Microfilm: NL 5556]. (1855, November 8). Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, p. 6.

[Microfilm: NL 5557]. (1858, April 29). The Straits Times, p. 5.

Municipal Commissioners meeting [Microfilm: NL 2203]. (1856, April 10). Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, p. 4.

Municipal Committee meeting [Microfilm: NL 5556]. (1854, April 8). The Straits Times, p. 5. 

Municipal Committee meeting [Microfilm: NL 483]. (1854, August 24). The Straits Times, p. 5.

Municipal Committee meeting [Microfilm: NL 483]. (1854, September 12). The Straits Times, p. 5.

Municipal Committee meeting [Microfilm: NL 483]. (1854, October 3). The Straits Times, p. 5.