Benteng Malboro

The Beauty of Fort Marlborough in Bengkulu

 

Fort Marlborough is a bastion of buildings located on the coast of Tread Padri - Bengkulu City. The fort was built by the colonial British in 1914 - 1719 under the leadership of Governor-General JosefColin during their occupation in the area of Bengkulu. Marlboroughis the largest castle fortress ever built by the United Nations duringcolonialism in Southeast Asia.
Construction of Fort Marlborough castle building is indeed very strong with shades of British architecture The 20th century is'magnificent' and 'established'. The overall shape of the fortresscomplex of buildings that resemble cross sections of the body 'turtle' is very impressive power and grandeur. The details of building aEuropean Taste impress the existence of a great nation andprosper at the time. Of various relics are still found in the fortbuildings may also be known that in his time building also serves as a focal point for various activities including offices, even in prison.
Bengkulu is a province in Sumatra, Indonesia, and should you come across. In the past this area was once the arena of commercial rivalry between England and the Netherlands. They are trying to master the commodities (pepper) that were there. In 1664 the Netherlands with its VOC established offices in the auctions there. In 1670 the Sultan of Bantam pepper issued a new trading rule. Regulations that make the Netherlands a loss. Therefore, in the year (1670) Dutch to leave Bengkulu. They went to Jakarta in order to master it.As the most precious relic of the British, the city of Bengkulu made with the establishment of the headquarters of Fort Marlborough, founded by the East Indian Company (EIC) in 1713 to 1719 under the leadership of Governor Joseph Callet. The fort is said to be the strongest fortress in eastern England after the Fort st.Goerge in Mardas (India).

The fort is built on an artificial hill, overlooking the town of Bengkulu and backs to the Indian Ocean. The fort was never attacked and partly burned by the people who make the Bengkulu inhabitants fled to their ships and went to Madras. They returned in 1724 after an agreement œdiperbaikiâ â € €?. In 1793 launched a massive attack again makes a British officer, Robert Hamilton, died in 1807 and resident Thomas Parr was killed anyway. Both are commemorated with the establishment of monuments in the city of Bengkulu by the British government.
As a bulwark, Marlborough still continues to function during the reign of the Dutch East Indies (1825 - 1942), Japan (1942 - 1945), even in the war of independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Since Japan's defeat in 1948 the castle until it became an Indonesian Police headquarters. However, in the year 1949 - 1950 Marlborough Castle was occupied again by the Dutch. After the Dutch left, Fort Marlborough in 1950 became the headquarters of the army, until the year 1977 submitted to Dipdikbud to be in pugar and heritage buildings.
For more details, use your free time to relax and rest in the city of Bengkulu. Charm is sure to be created there. Especially if you are a researcher cultural history of the archipelago, is the perfect place for you further exploitation of Fort Marlborough, Bengkulu.

Which became one of the uniqueness of Fort Marlborough was on his four-facet design is so solid with two layers f defense walls complete with moat that surrounds it to withstand enemy attacks. The fort is very sturdy stand to this day even though he was already vary old when the fort was not using a reinforced concrete construction such as the building in  the modern era. Building materials used in construction of this fort, among others: rock, stone, and brick adhesive prepared with a mixture of lime, sand, and red cement. And other uniqueness is castle design resembles a turtle when viewed it from above. It will show the four parts of the building such as angled legs, and a group of buildings resembling the head of a turtle.

Before entering the fort Marlborough, we are greeted by two wooden bridges over the moat and a stone gate-plated sturdy design like the UK-made citadels in the world.

On the other side of the entrance gate, we'll see a room with afunction of the main guard room and guard room of the castle. On the inside, there are two military detention room. On one of the walls of the prisoners were seen paintings and charcoal records in theancient Dutch. Estimated writings made ​​prisoners in the fortress.

At the front of the castle there are also three graves of British officers who died ruling in Bengkulu, including the tomb of Thomas Parr resident who was killed when a revolt in Bengkulu. Which makes this fort was burned off the ground.

Inside of the fort, there are many rooms that serve as the holding room in including Bung Karno, who had inhabited one of the rooms in the fort when the first colonial period. Additionally the room serves as a repository of arms and ammunition as well as the torture chamber prison.

In the middle of the castle, there was once an extensive page serves as a ceremonial and collection care team as a place of detention and execution of the rebels. Marlborough castle overlooking the Indian Ocean is right therefore to keep the fort housed more accurate cannons facing the sea and artillery until now is still that we can see at Fort Marlborough.

As well as most the castle that was built, in this castle there are various lane secret that enabled a hidden exit the castl, but a number of lanes is not enabled now.

Until now, Fort Marlborough is still standing and treated after renovation by the government although there are still many short comings and is now the mainstay attraction of the Bengkulu city. To be able to enjoy the beauty and splendor of the castle entrance ticket enough to pay the price is affordable. If you are visiting the sights Bengkulu this one, it will increase our love for the homeland if remembering the struggle of the republic fighter first.