Fort Gate @ Fort Canning Park

This post on Fort Gate is the first in a series of posts on Fort Canning Park. Do keep a lookout for my other posts!

1. How To Get To Fort Gate At Fort Canning Hill

Fort Gate is located at some elevation from the foot of Fort Canning Hill. From the main roads or MRT stations, you will need to trek a little. Perhaps it is an exaggeration to use the word ‘trek’ as the slopes leading to any place on the hill are gentle enough for the not-so-fit and not-so-young. You can get your daily dose of exercise or even better, accumulate some steps on your Healthy 365 fitness tracker.

There are three MRT stations from which you can alight to get to Fort Gate.

Fort Canning Station
After coming out from Exit B, turn left and proceed towards Jubilee Park.

Clarke Quay Station
After coming out from Exit E, turn left and proceed along Coleman Bridge. At the end of Coleman Bridge, turn left again and walk towards the pedestrian overhead bridge which is located about 100 m away along River Valley Road. Cross the bridge to reach one of the entrances of Fort Canning Park.

Dhoby Ghaut Station
After coming out from Exit B, cross Penang Road. Turn left and proceed towards the tunnel. It will lead you to the super Instagrammable Fort Canning Park Tree Tunnel. Climb the spiral staircase and you will see paths leading you to Fort Gate as well as other historical sites.

Here is a map showing the location of Fort Gate, circled in red.

You do not have to fret about having to navigate there with a compass and map. Fort Canning is a park where directional signs are ubiquitous. You will be able to find finger posts along many paths and at many turns within the park.

The picture below shows a finger post found at Fort Canning Car Park B. As you can see, Fort Gate is 330 metres away towards the right.

2. A History Lesson – The Construction Of Fort Canning

Fort Gate is the entrance of the fort built by the British on this hill in 1860. Let us learn more about the history of Fort Canning and the significant historical value it bears.

The construction of Fort Canning commenced on 1 March 1859. A labour force of 500 to 600 convicts worked on the construction. The progress was expeditious and by next May, it was mostly completed. In 1861, the fort was handed over to the British military. By 1864, it had become fully functional.

The fort was named after Viscount Charles John Canning, the then Governor-General and subsequently first Viceroy of India from 1856–1862. Fort Canning was a supplementary fortification which adhered to the contour of the top of Government Hill.

As one of Singapore’s first British-built military reinforcements, the fort had several purposes. First and foremost, it was to defend Singapore from attacks from the sea. It also had to safeguard the security of the entire town and serve as a refuge area for residents of European descent in the event of social unrests. Truth be told, a major motivation for the construction of the fort was the deep concern over the Europeans’ safety after a series of social disturbances, including the Indian Mutiny which occurred in 1857.

After the completion of the fort, Government Hill was renamed Fort Canning Hill. During the whole period when the fort was in service, no battle took place. In fact, its cannons were used for non-military purposes such as to signal the time of day and to warn the town of fires!

Eventually in 1907, the fort was decommissioned. In 1926, a big part of the fort was torn down to make way for a service reservoir. The main gate and sally port were left untouched.

More on the history of Fort Gate can be found on the information board erected just in front of it. Do refer to the next section.

3. Fort Gate In Pictures And Video

Here are some pictures of Fort Gate taken on a weekday morning. It is usually quite crowded on weekends, especially in the morning, as the grass patch just behind the gate is a popular place for picnics and gatherings. Do try to visit on weekday mornings if you want to avoid the crowd.

The information on the board reads:

The structure before you is Fort Gate, the entrance of a British-built fort completed on this hill in 1860. The fort was named ‘Fort Canning’ after the then-Governor-General of India, Lord Charles John Canning. Its construction began in March 1859, and involved the labour of over 500 men.

Fort Canning was built to protect Singapore from seaborne attacks. Fort Gate, the main entrance to the fort, therefore strategically faced the beach. This made it difficult for invading seaborne forces to breach the fort unnoticed. A second purpose of the fort was to provide refuge for Singapore’s European population in the event of social unrest.

Fort Canning originally had a wall and moat running around its perimeter. The fort wall was low and thick, and constructed to withstand artillery bombardment. It had an outer face of granite and a brick interior, with an earthen fill in between to absorb the impact of cannonballs. Today, only a small fragment of this wall and the Fort Gate survive from the original Fort Canning.

Past this gate, you can find a floor map which hints to the former life of the hill.

Here is a video to bring you on a walk through the gate. You will be able to hear the sounds of nature at Fort Canning Park.

4. Some Information On Fort Wall

Fort Wall is briefly mentioned on the information board found in front of Fort Gate. Today, the surviving section of Fort Wall is covered with lush vegetation. It may be impossible to spot it if not for the information board found in front of it.

The information board reads:

The wall before you is the last remaining fragment of the fort wall that once encircled this hill. This wall, and the adjoining Fort Gate, were part of a British-built fort completed in 1860.

Fort Wall was built low and thick in order to withstand artillery bombardment. The exterior face was made from granite, the interior side from brick, and the space between was filled with soil to absorb the impact of cannonballs. A moat, which has now disappeared, also used to run around the Fort Wall.

5. Area Around Fort Gate As Event Space Today

Fort Gate holds great historical value and enables us to appreciate the history of Fort Canning even more. Today, the area is a popular picnic spot for the public during the weekends. It is also possible to hold corporate events, weddings and functions here at a cost of $648 for the full day.

The standing capacity is 2500 pax and the seating capacity 600 pax. Amenities such as power supplies and water points can also be provided upon request. More information is available on the website of Event Butler.