Fort Margherita

{{EngvarB|date=February 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}} {{about|the fort in Sarawak, Malaysia|the fortification in Malta|Santa Margherita Lines}} {{Infobox building | name = Fort Margherita | image = Fort Margherita - Kuching.jpg | caption = The main tower of Fort Margherita. | location = Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia | coordinates = {{coord|1|33|38|N|110|20|58|E|region:MY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | status = Completed | construction_start_date = unknown | completion_date = 1879<ref name="Sarawak bastion of protection">{{cite web|url=https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/news/fort-margherita-sarawaks-bastion-of-protection/|title=Fort Margherita – Sarawak's Bastion of Protection|author=James Alexander Ritchie|publisher=New Sarawak Tribune|date=28 December 2018|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226092341/https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/news/fort-margherita-sarawaks-bastion-of-protection/|archive-date=26 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> | opening_date = | building_type = Fort | roof = | floor_count = 3 | cost = $8,100 Sarawak dollar<ref name="brookegallery">{{cite web|url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/09/25/brooke-gallery-opens-at-fort-margherita/|title=Brooke Gallery opens at Fort Margherita|author=Saiful Bahari|publisher=The Borneo Post|date=25 September 2016|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226101025/http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/09/25/brooke-gallery-opens-at-fort-margherita/|archive-date=26 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> | architect = | developer = | owner = Government of Sarawak | operator = | references = }}

'''Fort Margherita''' is a fort constructed in 1879<ref>{{cite book |title=Sarawak Long Ago |date=1969 |isbn=983-62-3981-2 |page=33}}</ref> by Charles Brooke, the second Rajah of Sarawak, situated in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The fort is an important landmark and monument in Sarawak's history which goes back to the century-old Brooke dynasty of Sarawak.<ref name="Sarawak bastion of protection" /> The fort, built in the style of an English castle, was designed to protect Kuching from attacks by pirates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asiancorrespondent.com/2012/08/kuchings-colonial-heritage/|title=Kuching's colonial heritage|author=Graham Land|publisher=Asian Correspondent|year=2018|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226100558/https://asiancorrespondent.com/2012/08/kuchings-colonial-heritage/|archive-date=26 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="fort margherita and gallery">{{cite web|url=https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/fort-margherita/|title=Fort Margherita|publisher=Sarawak Tourism|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226102225/https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/fort-margherita/|archive-date=26 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="fort margherita background">{{cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/malaysia/articles/the-almost-romantic-tale-of-kuchings-fort-margherita/|title=The (Almost) Romantic Tale of Kuching's Fort Margherita|author=Sam Bedford|publisher=Culture Trip|date=9 June 2018|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226173157/https://theculturetrip.com/asia/malaysia/articles/the-almost-romantic-tale-of-kuchings-fort-margherita/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It served as a Police Museum from 1971 before being handed over to the Government of Sarawak and now is a tourist attraction in Kuching. The fort now houses the Brooke Gallery, an exhibition showcasing the history of Sarawak under the Brooke dynasty.<ref name="fort margherita and gallery"/><ref name="gallery">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/09/28/brooke-gallery-a-permanent-storytelling-exhibition/|title=Brooke Gallery a permanent storytelling exhibition|author=Sharon Ling|work=The Star|date=28 September 2016|access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref>

It is situated across the Sarawak River near The Astana, the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, and is accessible by road. It is a 15-minute drive along Petra Jaya, or a short river cruise from Pangkalan Batu, in front of Main Bazaar on Kuching Waterfront and located next to the New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/07/06/walkway-for-fort-margherita-state-to-provide-better-accessiblity-to-draw-more-visitors-to-historical/|title=Walkway for Fort Margherita|author=Geryl Ogilvy|work=The Star|date=6 July 2017|access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref> It is part of the Kuching Heritage Trail.<ref name="Kuching Heritage Trail">{{cite web|url=https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/old-kuching-heritage-trail/|title=Old Kuching Heritage Trail|publisher=Sarawak Tourism|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226082251/https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/old-kuching-heritage-trail/|archive-date=26 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History == Fort Margherita is named after Brooke's beloved wife, Margaret Alice Lili de Windt,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@mcwong/the-ranee-queen-exhibition-by-brooke-gallery-kuching-old-courthouse-d8ab43cf09da|title=The Ranee (Queen) Exhibition by Brooke Gallery — Kuching Old Courthouse|author=MC Wong|publisher=Medium|date=1 October 2018|access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref> whom he married at Highworth, Wiltshire, on 28 October 1869; she was raised to the title of Ranee of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness upon their marriage.<ref name="fort margherita background"/> The fort was built on a hill overlooking the Sarawak River and situated on the north bank opposite the then fast expanding town centre of Kuching. The fort was well equipped to protect the capital from river-borne invasions.<ref name="fort margherita background"/>

== Features == The three-storey tower block's battlement includes a watchpoint on top, a courtyard surrounded by a high wall with sharp glass shards inlaid for protection, and set into the wall itself are wooden windows from where the cannons were fired. Executions of prisoners were carried out in this courtyard, right up to the Japanese occupation during World War II.<ref name="Sarawak bastion of protection"/>

=== The Brooke Gallery === In 2016, The Brooke Gallery, which showcases belongings from the Brooke family and artefacts during their time as the White Rajahs, was opened.<ref name="brookegallery"/><ref name="fort margherita and gallery"/> The gallery is a collaboration between the State Museum Department, Tourism Cultural and Heritage Category:Forts of the Raj of SarawakSarawak and the Brooke Trust.<ref name="brookegallery"/><ref name="gallery"/> The opening of the gallery received support from volunteers from Sarawak, the United Kingdom and Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brooketrust.org/volunteer|title=Volunteer|publisher=Brooke Trust|access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>

== References == <references />

== External links == {{commons category-inline|Fort Margherita}}

[https://www.brooketrust.org/the-brooke-gallery Brooke Gallery - Brook Trust website]

Category:Buildings and structures in Kuching Margherita Category:Royal residences in Malaysia Category:Monuments and memorials in Malaysia Category:Tourist attractions in Kuching Category:1879 establishments in Sarawak Category:19th-century architecture in Malaysia Category:Forts of the Raj of Sarawak