Fort Lily

{{Short description|Fort in Sarawak, Malaysia}} {{Infobox building | name = Fort Lily | image = Fort Lily.jpg | address = Jalan Datuk Patinggi Udin, Betong, Sarawak | location_country = Malaysia | completion_date = 1858 | owner = Government of Sarawak | material = Belian timber }}

'''Fort Lily''' ('''Fort Lili''') is a historical fort in Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia. It was built in 1858 by James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, as a defence centre and to safeguard government activities in the area.

== History == The fort, the oldest in Sarawak, is located in the town of Betong in the Betong Division, Sarawak, and was built in 1858 by James Brooke, the first Rajah of Sarawak, as a government administrative centre and to provide protection from attacks by Iban warriors led by Rentap. The fort was originally known as ''Fort Betong'', but was later renamed ''Fort Lili'' (often anglicized as ''Fort Lily'' after Margaret Alice Lili de Windt, the wife of the second Rajah of Sarawak. This makes it one of three forts named after Margaret Alice Lili de Windt - the other two being Fort Margherita and Fort Alice. Later, it was used as a police station and as government offices, before it became vacant.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=EditorJY |date=2019-04-18 |title=Fort Lily playing an important role for Betong once again |url=https://dayakdaily.com/fort-lily-playing-an-role-for-betong-once-again/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=DayakDaily |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=EditorBP11 |first= |date=2024-06-24 |title=Fort Lily, Fort Sylvia to be Iban heritage centres |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2024/06/24/fort-lily-fort-sylvia-to-be-iban-heritage-centres/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Borneo Post Online |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=The Official Portal of the Sarawak Government |url=https://sarawak.gov.my/web/home/news_view/119/12360 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=sarawak.gov.my}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Dawum |first=Garret |date=2019-04-16 |title=Fort Lily to be rejuvenated {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/479932/fort-lily-be-rejuvenated |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=A Walk Through Forts in Sarawak - Sarawak Museum Department |url=https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/143 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=museum.sarawak.gov.my}}</ref> Category:Forts of the Raj of Sarawak

== Description == The fort is made entirely of wood using belian timber. The original nipah leaf roof has been replaced with a roof of belian shingles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

In 2019, it was reported that the building would be converted into a museum by the Sarawak Museum Department to display cultural artefacts of the Iban people.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

== References == <references /> {{coord|1.41445|111.52799|format=dms|type:landmark_region:MY|display=title}}

Category:Forts in Malaysia Category:Tourist attractions in Sarawak Category:Forts of the Raj of Sarawak {{Malaysian historical architectures and sites}}