Fort Cornwallis

All informations copy from Fort Cornwallis's Brochure.

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In 1786, soon after took possession of the island, Francis Light erected a fort of nibong palms at the tip of the cape which called Fort Point and named it after the Governor-General in Bengal-Charles Cornwallis.

This fort was later reconstructed in the same size, shape and layout. Convict labour which was first imported in 1789 was immediately put to work on the fort by Francis Light to rebuilt the fort in brick for 67,000 Spanish Dollars in 1793.

Fort Cornwallis was the first military and administrative base of the East India Company and the garrison of Fort Cornwallis consisted of a handful of Europeans, who resided within the fort, and Sepoys, who dwelt in attap huts next to the fort. Previously surrounded with a 27 foot wide and 6 feet deep moat, it was filled in about a century ago due to malaria. Today, relics such as chapel, store, cell rooms and the gunpowder magazine are still remaining in this fort.

History galleries from the early 1700 and staff with colonial costume now is part of the attraction to visit this fort.

Francis Light

I like this - Farmer hat!


Chapel - Located at the south-west angle of the fort, this is the first chapel built in Penang and the first recorded service which took place was the marriage of Francis Light's widow, Martina Rozells, to John Timmers in 1799.

Gunpowder Magazine - Construsted in 1814, located at the north-west bastion of the fort and it was used to store explosive. It was designed to minimizethe damaged caused by an explosion.

Cannon