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Fort Canning Park

Fort Canning Hill, also known as Bukit Larangan (meaning "Forbidden Hill") and later Government Hill, is 156 ft high and located at the junction of Canning Rise and Fort Canning Road. It has been a landmark since Singapore's earliest recorded history. In the 14th century, it was the site of the palatial resort of former Majapahit kings, and in colonial times, it became the location for the residence of colonial governors starting with Sir Stamford Raffles. Key historic events have taken place upon the hill, including the establishment of the Botanic Gardens and Lieutenant General Percival’s decision to surrender to the Japanese. The hill was also known as Bukit Tuan Bonham (Sir Bonham's Hill), Bukit Bendera (Flag Hill), and Singapore Hill.

Bukit Larangan (Forbidden Hill)
Prior to 1822, Fort Canning Hill was known as Bukit Larangan, where kings of a legendary age were believed to be buried. The early colonials found sandstone foundation blocks dating back to the 14th century marking a large palatial building along its slope. Purportedly the resting place of the last king, Iskandar Shah, a keramat (Muslim shrine) dedicated to him is located on the hill. The site is considered holy and many make their annual pilgrimage there. Otherwise, few locals frequent the hill as stories abound that the hill is haunted. Major Farquhar had to climb up the hill himself accompanied only by a few Malaccan Malays soon after the founding of Singapore. It was thus Farquhar who drew up the first gun on that hill and set up the post to hoist the Union Jack.

A spring on the south-west side of the hill served as a watering hole for ships anchored at the harbour. It was also believed to be the bathing place of Malayan princesses in ancient times. The hill was rich with Chinese and ancient Malay artefacts even then. In January 1984, archaeological finds were uncovered under an excavation project commissioned by the National Museum, led by John Miksic, and sponsored by Shell.

Government House
In November 1822, a residence was built for Raffles and his sister's family. It was a wooden bungalow 100 ft long and 50 ft wide, with venetians and an attap roof. It had two parallel halls with verandas at both the front and back and two square wings that served as sleeping quarters. Raffles enjoyed the location so much so that he suggested he be buried here, mixed with the ashes of the Malayan kings. His home was later renamed Government House. The first Botanic Gardens, extending across 19 ha, also began experimentally along the slopes of the hill. The flagstaff announced the arrival of ships, so merchants eager to do business could quickly make their way to the harbour. A time-ball was also dropped from the yard-arm of the staff between 9:00 am to 10:00 am daily, acting as a large alarm clock. This arrangement began in 1847 and continued until March 1850, when lightning splintered the flagstaff. A lighthouse was also built beside the flagstaff.

With the completion of Government House in 1822, the hill became known as Government Hill or Singapore Hill. To the Malays, however, it was Bukit Tuan Bonham (Sir Bonham's Hill) after Sir Samuel George Bonham, who was Governor from 1836 to 1848, or Bukit Bendera (Flag Hill). A sundial used when Government House was located on the hill was sited at the original location of Raffle's house. Government House was demolished in 1859 to make way for the Fort.

Christian Cemetery
Europeans were buried in a cemetery on the hill from 1819 to 1822, when the cemetery was declared full. It was moved lower down the hill and consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta in 1834. The only remnants of the old Christian Cemetery are some headstones along the brick walls (although most of the headstones came from another cemetery), the 1846 Gothic gateways built by Captain Charles Edward Faber and two Classical monuments believed to be designed by Coleman. The majority of the tombstones from the old Christian Cemetery can be found at St Gregory's Armenian Church, although the graves are not located there.

Botanical Gardens
Sir Stamford Raffles initiated the establishment of the Botanical Gardens in November 1822. It was headed by surgeon Nathaniel Wallich, who had had earlier success in setting up the Botanical Gardens in Calcutta. At least 48 acres of land were staked out, including the Government Gardens on the slopes of the hill, where nutmeg and cloves had been planted since 1819. Fruit trees were also abundant on the hill, remnants of a possible royal garden under the ancient Malayan kings.
Unfortunately, rising costs of maintenance and the lack of government support saw the closure of the experimental spice gardens in June 1829, but not before Wallich had produced a new strain of orchid, the Vanda Wallachii. The plot was sold to the Armenian church. In November 1994, the Spice Gardens, a 1,168 sq m replica of the early Botanical Gardens, was established. The Spice Gardens hold seven species of spice plants such as clove and nutmeg, which were originally planted along these slopes.

Fort Canning
In 1859, Government House was demolished and the construction of the Fort was started despite protests from some quarters, which believed it was a mistake to locate the fort on the hill so far removed from shore. Built on an excavated plateau, the Fort was completed in 1861 by 400 Chinese coolies. It was named after Viscount Charles John Canning, Governor-General and First Viceroy of India (1856-1862).

There were seven 68-pounders positioned to face the sea by May 1859, another eight 8-inch shell guns and two 13-inch mortars were added in 1867, and a hospital for European artillerymen. A 68-pounder was fired at 5:00 am each morning, signalling the start of the day for those within a two-mile radius, enough for most residents around Fort Canning to take note. The cannons were also used until 1896 to signal the outbreak of fires. Unfortunately, when the Fort was completed, it was noticed that the fort at Pearl's Hill was higher and thus the Government Military Engineer ordered that Pearl's Hill be shaved off to meet the right height. The fort was demolished in 1907, never having been used in defence of the country. Currently, only two 9-pound cannons and the Gothic archway of its entrance (the Old Fort Gateway, 1859), designed by G. C. Collyer, still stand.

Fort Canning Park
In 1972, the greenery around Fort Canning was known as Central Park with the amalgamation of the King George V Park (set up prior to World War II) and the land occupied by the British Armed Forces. The River Valley Road end of the park used to house the National Theatre and the Van Kleef Aquarium. It also had a roller-skating rink, a playground, a Vietnamese restaurant and a squash centre.

It was renamed Fort Canning Park with the planting of a fruit tree by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 1 November 1981. Today, Fort Canning has been converted into a historical Park. It is also a popular location for picnics and cultural performances.



Author
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama



References
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore: 1819-1867 (pp. 43, 53, 75, 95, 573, 675, 686, 769, 788). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: SING 959.57 BUC)

Edwards, N. & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (pp. 361-362). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: SING 915.957 EDW)

Historical central park renamed. (1981, November 2). The Straits Times, p. 9.

Life before Raffles. (1984, March 7). The Straits Times, p. 1-3.

Lim J. & Miksic, J. (1990, November 7). Heritage on a hill; The Lion's soul; Fort finds. The Straits Times, Life!, p. 3.

Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol 1, pp. 329, 338, 491, 480, 489, 499, 576). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: SING 959.57 ONE -[HIS])

Makepeace W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol 2, pp. 65, 470, 475, 507, 587). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: SING 959.57 ONE -[HIS])


Further readings
Choo, A. A. (1986). Report on the excavation at Fort Canning Hill Singapore (p. 25). Singapore: National Museum.
(Call no.: SING q959.57 CHO -[HIS])

Miksic, J. N. (1984). Archaeological research on the "Forbidden Hill" of Singapore: excavations at Fort Canning (p. 37). Singapore: National Museum.
(Call no.: RSING 959.59 MIK)

National Parks Board, Singapore. Fort Canning Park. Retrieved December 10, 2004 from www.nparks.gov.sg/parks/loc/par-loc-for_cann.shtml



The information in this article is valid as at 2001 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Military Sites
Recreation>>Places of Interest
Historic parks--Singapore
Fort Canning Park (Singapore)
Singapore--History
Arts>>Architecture>>Landscape architecture
Arts>>Architecture>>Public and commercial buildings
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore

Librarian Recommendations
>> Fort Canning Bunker
>> Singapore Botanic Gardens
>> Nathaniel Wallich
>> Keramat Sultan Iskandar Shah on Fort Canning Hill : general view
>> Fort Canning Park Spice Garden signboard : general view
>> Fort Canning Centre : exterior
>> Istana
>> Hill Street
>> Fort Canning Cemetery


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