What you might not know about Singapore's national monuments
The Changi Prison Gate, Wall and Turrets were recently gazetted as a national monument on 15 Feb. Read on to find out more about this monument and other historic sites in Singapore
Image: National Heritage Board/ Singapore Prison Service
It was designed to hold only 600 prisoners. However, the old Changi Prison eventually held thousands of civilians and prisoners of war (POW) during the Second World War.
Today, the prison’s steel entrance gate, two turrets and a 180-metre long wall, are the only remnants of the old prison from 1936. The prison was first constructed in the same year, to replace the Outram Prison.
As of 15 Feb, parts of the old Changi Prison have been gazetted by the National Heritage Board (NHB) as a national monument, in remembrance of the wartime experience.
The prison is now one of Singapore’s 72 national monuments. Sites gazetted as national monuments are selected based on their cultural, historical, architectural and symbolic significance. The Fullerton Hotel building and the Former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station are a few of such monuments.
But do you know about the building that replaced a lunatic asylum (College of Medicine Building at Singapore General Hospital) or the home that is said to have extraordinary fengshui (Former House of Tan Yeok Nee at Penang Road)?
Here are some other national monuments Singaporeans might not even know about.
Former House of Tan Yeok Nee
Where: 101 Penang Road, Singapore 238466
Surrounded by sleek high-rise buildings of Orchard Road, this Chinese-style building may have drawn more than a few curious gazes. It dates back to 1882 and was the home of wealthy entrepreneur Tan Yeok Nee.
The house was said to have a prime location as it was situated in front of a hill (Oxley Hill), with a stream located in front of it (Stamford Canal) and was on low-lying grounds. This combination was said to help bring wealth to its homeowner while protecting the home from evil spirits.
Today, the former residence is the last of the ‘Four Grand Mansions’ left standing in Singapore — these were the grand homes of Teochew towkays (affluent business owners) from the late 19th century.
The other three mansions have since been demolished during Singapore’s rapid redevelopment in the 20th century.
Over the years, this building has been used as a home and school for young Eurasian girls, the home of a station master, as well as the Command Headquarters for the Salvation Army.
The building is now occupied by the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.
College of Medicine Building
Where: 16 College Road Singapore 169854
Situated within the Singapore General Hospital compound, this building was the centre of medical education in Singapore. Gazetted in 2002, the College of Medicine building is now occupied by the Singapore Medical Council, the Ministry of Health and the College of Family Physicians.
But it was formerly the site of a lunatic asylum. From 1905, the asylum’s abandoned female wards were converted into the medical school.
As the needs of the medical college grew, the old wards were demolished in the 1920s to make way for the College of Medicine building. Completed in 1926, the college building was equipped with laboratories, classrooms, offices and a museum.
During the war, the college was taken over by the Japanese army and used for medical research. Classes resumed in 1946, and the building continued to be the centre of western medical education in Singapore up until 1982.
From 1980, the college became known as the Faculty of Medicine and became a part of the National University of Singapore campus at Kent Ridge.
Another fun fact: you’ll find decorative resemblances between the College of Medicine Building, the Old Supreme Court and the Former City Hall. The latter two buildings are now part of the National Gallery Singapore. All three buildings feature Neoclassical details, as designed by sculptor-architect Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli.
Former Ford Factory
Where: 351 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588192
Built in 1941, this former automobile factory was intended to serve as Ford Motor Company’s first assembly plant in Southeast Asia.
A year later, the factory was seized by the occupying Japanese forces and used as its military headquarters and a vehicle assembly plant, during the Second World War.
The factory building was also the location where the British had signed its unconditional surrender of Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942.
Although it briefly produced fighter planes for the British military, these planes were never used against the Japanese. The planes were flown out of the region in Jan 1942, when Singapore’s surrender seemed imminent.
As of 16 Feb, the museum has been temporarily closed for a revamp and is slated to reopen in 2017.
Maghain Aboth Synagogue
Where: 24/26 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187968
Built in 1878, this synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Singapore as well as Southeast Asia. It’s located in the former Jewish neighbourhood, in the areas now known as Dhoby Ghaut and Bras Basah.
The synagogue’s name means “Shield of Our Fathers” in Hebrew. Gazetted as a national monument in 1998, this synagogue features Neoclassical details, such as Roman-style columns and arches.
Its covered porch at the front of the building was constructed such that it was large enough for horse carriages to pass through.
Only men could be accommodated within the synagogue’s original one-storey building; the balcony on the second floor was added later on, for women.
Today, this synagogue continues to serve as the primary place of worship for the Jewish community in Singapore.
Former Nagore Dargah
Where: 140 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068604
Situated in between rows of cafes and Korean barbeque restaurants at Telok Ayer, this ornate building certain stands out. Completed in 1830, this shrine (or dargah in Tamil) was built by the Chulia community in Singapore, who worked as moneylenders and traders.
It replicates the style of the original Nagore shrine in Tamil Nadu, such that these immigrants could continue to venerate the Tamil Sufi preacher-saint Shahul Hamid. A similar shrine can also be found in the Little India of Georgetown, Penang.
Within this building, you’ll find an eclectic mix of architectural details, varying widely from minaret-like towers to French-style windows and classical Doric columns and arches.
As of 2011, the former shrine has been known as the Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre. Here, visitors get to learn more about the history of the early Indian Muslim immigrants and their contributions to Singapore.
Abdul Gafoor Mosque
Where: 41 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209369
With its distinctive architecture and striking pastel hue, this mosque stands out even among the rows of colourful shophouses in Little India. It has over a century of history and it features Moorish details, as well as Neoclassical motifs.
The mosque was first built to replace the neighbouring Al-Abrar Mosque, which was housed in a simple wooden building that became dilapidated.
This mosque was named after Abdul Gafoor, a Tamil Muslim chief clerk who helped oversee the construction of the mosque from 1907. Sadly, he passed away before the mosque was completed.
During the major restoration work on the mosque in 2000, the mosque was painted in the striking pastel yellow that you see today. The basement level was refurbished to fit a prayer hall for up to 600 people.
