Unveiling layers of history

Fort Cornwallis’ northern wall with cannon emplacements along with lighthouse and flagstaff in the northeast quadrant. — Filepic

Fort Cornwallis had never been involved in battle, but was a cornerstone of Penang’s growth over the centuries.

First established not long after Captain Francis Light claimed the island for the British Crown, it served more as an administrative base.Yet the potential firepower offered by its guns allowed the port in George Town to flourish as an important trading hub, while its sturdy walls outlasted two world wars and everything else in between.