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W H A T
Fort Canning Park is one of the landmarks in Singapore that has a very rich history, having witnessed numerous milestones of Singapore’s past.
This hilltop park once situated many historical buildings, including the palaces of the 14th century Malay Kings and the British Army Barracks.
It was the headquarters of the Underground Far East Command Centre, also known as the ‘Battle Box’ and was the largest underground military operations complex in Singapore.
The decision to surrender Singapore to the Japanese on 15th February 1942 was also made by the British Officers there as well.
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UNDERGROUND FAR EAST COMMAND CENTRE (‘BATTLE BOX’)
The Centre was located at Fort Canning during the Second World War and was where Lieutenant General Percival made the decision to surrender to the Japanese.
The Centre was a maze like building that consisted of 26 rooms and corridors. The building is also bombproof and is able to recycle its own supply of air.
After the war, the Battle Box was sealed off and its exact location was forgotten. It was discovered again in 1988, and thus converted into a tourist attraction.
The centre has been refurbished with an air-conditioning system with its historical value still very much preserved. It was then reopened on 31 January 1992 as the Battle Box. The museum was then formally opened on the 55th anniversary of the surrender of Singapore, 15th February 1997.
Stepping into the Battle Box will bring you back to the morning of 15th February 1942 by making use of audio tracks, video effects, high quality animations and figurines to tell of the happenings on that fateful day.
On 28 June 2016, the Battle Box, newly managed by the Singapore History Consultants, was officially launched.
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PALACE OF
14TH CENTURY
MALAY KINGS
Temasek, the earliest recorded name of modern day Singapore, was founded by Sri Tri Buana and was a bustling port not only for fishing, but for trading of goods as well.
This led to Temasek being nicknamed as a ‘Great City’ in the semi-mythical book Serajah Melayu (Malay Annals).
Temasek most likely started from the mouth of the Singapore River, where a fresh supply of water as well as a hill was located nearby.
The freshwater came from a spring on Fort Canning which also served as the bathing place for royalty. The hill itself was known as Mount Meru, which was associated with divinity and kingship, and building his palace on Fort Canning helped to secure the Malay King’s role as a semi-divine ruler.
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FORT
CANNING
CEMETERY
Fort Canning was one of the first burial grounds for Christians in Singapore. There were two burial sites, with the first being used from 1819 - 1822 and the second being used from 1822- 1865.
It was then closed and reopened as the park that we are all familiar with now, Fort Canning Park.
The first burial site was located on the hilltop, near the bungalow of Stamford Raffles, with evidences of at least 3 burials made there.
The first burial was that of John Casamajor, a Commercial Resident of the British East India Company as well as a judge that was on a visit from India. The other two burials were that of John Carnegy, a ship captain, and John Collingwood, a ship commander.
However, the cemetery was soon discontinued at the end of 1822 as it was thought to be too close to Raffles’ residence. There are no visible traces of this cemetery due to the many rebuilding projects on that site over the years.
The second burial site was located on the slopes of Fort Canning and this small cemetery soon became full.
Reverend Robert Burn, the then resident chaplain, applied for a new burial site in 1827 and after some delay, in 1830, Governor Robert Fullerton then allowed Burn to choose a more suitable site or to submit a proposal to enlarge the current cemetery.
Burn then chose to carry out the latter and proposed to enclose the enlarged area with a wall. On 6th October 1934, the enlarged cemetery was consecrated by Daniel Wilson, the Bishop of Calcutta.
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The separation of Protestant and Catholic burials were not implemented seriously until 1845 due to the limited size of the cemetery.
In the same year, the cemetery was expanded again to include the area to the east of the central path. In 1846, a pair of Gothic gates and a brick wall were built to enclose the cemetery, with the Gothic gates still standing today and being one of the main attractions of Fort Canning Park today.
Around the same period, two arches were built on the land facing sides of the cemetery, which were designed by Charles Edward Faber who was the superintending engineer of the Straits Settlement.
By the end of 1863, the cemetery was full once again and a new burial site was located at Bukit Timah. Between 1822 and 1865, around 600 burials took place there with ⅓ of them being Chinese Christians.
In 1953, City Council’s Committee for the Preservation of Historic Sites and Antiquities announced that the burial site would be converted into a “Garden of Memory” as it was in a bad state of repair in 1952.
To preserve the gravestones, they were removed and built into the walls of the former cemetery. The remainders were then slowly cleared over a period of two decades.
Many tombstones and statues were then moved to the Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator on Hill Street. Visitors can still find some original monuments at Fort Canning Park, including the Gothic gates mentioned above, the James Brooke Napier Memorial built in memory of the infant son of William and Maria Frances Napier and two dome-shaped cupolas.
Currently, Fort Canning Park is a place for modern events such as concerts, theatre productions and festivals, which starkly contrasts with the ancient artefacts present around the park.
This hilltop park is perfect for family outings, where one can find themselves surrounded by history while enjoying the modern events held there.
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Fort Canning Park is in the heart of Singapore and is a peaceful hideout surrounded by the bustling city.
It is a place for many to enjoy the nature and have a leisure stroll with their loved ones while strengthening their bonds.
Tourists and locals alike go to Fort Canning Park for the rich history behind it, and to feel like they are standing in a piece of history and is a to-go spot for anyone who wants to find solace in the midst of a fast paced life.