Name: Georgetown Penang
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Fort Cornwallis, Georgetown Penang Overview

Located at Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Fort Cornwallis (Kota Cornwallis in Malay) is one of the most important structures in George Town, Penang. It is the largest intact standing fort in Malaysia which was built for defending Penang from pirate attacks.

Named after Charles Marquis Cornwallis, the Governor General of Bengal, the design of Fort Cornwallis is very much like that of other British forts in India. The fort played a major role in stabilizing George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the interior of Fort Cornwallis, there stands a bronze statue of Captain Francis Light along with barracks, munitions storage areas and prison cells.

Architecture of Fort Cornwallis

With protecting bastation on every corner, Fort Cornwallis is an example of a star fort. The layout, design and construction of a fort were usually done by a military engineer making it safe but no engineer was appointed to Penang for the first ten years. It was with the help of Light’s experience of a country trader and Navy that the fort was designed.

There were barracks inside Fort Cornwallis which were made to keep artillery regiments and offices, gunpowder, gun carriages, food and clothing, storerooms for armaments and military prisoners.
The bridges were used to provide access to the two gateway, above which were buildings that served as officer’s quarters.
Many 9 and 18 pounder cannons were mounted on the ramparts.
The fort’s arsenal consisted of 12 mortars and 110 cannons.