Fort Margherita
| Fort Margherita | |
|---|---|
 Fort Margherita - the main tower and the walls | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Fort |
| Location | Kuching,Sarawak,Malaysia |
| Coordinates | 1°33′38″N110°20′58″E/ 1.56056°N 110.34944°E |
| Construction started | unknown |
| Completed | 1879[1] |
| Cost | $8,100Sarawak dollar[2] |
| Owner | Government of Sarawak |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
Fort Margheritais an oldfortconstructed in 1879[3]byCharles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak,situated inKuching,Sarawak,Malaysia.The fort is an important landmark and monument in Sarawak's history which goes back to theBrooke dynasty.[1]The fort, built in the style of an English castle, was designed to protect Kuching from being attacked bypirates.[4][5][6]It served as a Police Museum from 1971 before being handed over to theGovernment of Sarawakand now is a tourist attraction in Kuching. The fort now houses the Brooke Gallery, an exhibition showcasing the history of Sarawak under the Brooke dynasty.[5][7]
It is situated across theSarawak RivernearThe Astana,the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, and is accessible by road. It is a 15-minute drive alongPetra Jaya,or a short river cruise from Pangkalan Batu, in front of Main Bazaar on Kuching Waterfront and located next to theNew Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building.[8]It is part of theKuching Heritage Trail.[9]
History[edit]
Fort Margherita is named after Brooke's beloved wife,Margaret Alice Lili de Windt,[10]whom he married atHighworth,Wiltshire,on 28 October 1869; she was raised to the title of Ranee of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness upon their marriage.[6]The fort was built on a hill overlooking theSarawak Riverand situated on the north bank opposite the then fast expanding town centre ofKuching.The fort was well equipped to protect the capital from river-borne invasions.[6]
Features[edit]
The three-storey tower block's battlement includes a watchpoint on top, a courtyard surrounded by a high wall with sharp glass shards inlaid for protection, and set into the wall itself are wooden windows from where the cannons were fired. Executions of prisoners were carried out in this courtyard, right up to theJapanese occupationduringWorld War II.[1]
The Brooke Gallery[edit]
In 2016, The Brooke Gallery, which showcases belongings from the Brooke family and artefacts during their time as theWhite Rajahs,was opened.[2][5]The gallery is a collaboration between the State Museum Department, Tourism Cultural and Heritage Sarawak and the Brooke Trust.[2][7]The opening of the gallery received support from volunteers from Sarawak, theUnited KingdomandAustralia.[11]
References[edit]
- ^abcJames Alexander Ritchie (28 December 2018)."Fort Margherita – Sarawak's Bastion of Protection".New Sarawak Tribune. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2019.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^abcSaiful Bahari (25 September 2016)."Brooke Gallery opens at Fort Margherita".The Borneo Post. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2019.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^Sarawak Long Ago.1969. p. 33.ISBN983-62-3981-2.
- ^Graham Land (2018)."Kuching's colonial heritage".Asian Correspondent. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2019.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^abc"Fort Margherita".Sarawak Tourism. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2019.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^abcSam Bedford (9 June 2018)."The (Almost) Romantic Tale of Kuching's Fort Margherita".Culture Trip.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^abSharon Ling (28 September 2016)."Brooke Gallery a permanent storytelling exhibition".The Star.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^Geryl Ogilvy (6 July 2017)."Walkway for Fort Margherita".The Star.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^"Old Kuching Heritage Trail".Sarawak Tourism. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2019.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^MC Wong (1 October 2018)."The Ranee (Queen) Exhibition by Brooke Gallery — Kuching Old Courthouse".Medium.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^"Volunteer".Brooke Trust.Retrieved27 February2019.
External links[edit]
Media related toFort Margheritaat Wikimedia Commons