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The fort’s star-shaped stone walls were completed in 1810; before construction of the walls began in 1804, the fortifications were nothing more than palm trunk. The walls are now ten feet high, and can be walked through in about ten minutes.
The height and shape of the walled perimeter is no accident - the conflicts of the 19th century made stronger walls an urgent matter for the growing colony.
The Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, the resentful Sultan of Kedah (the former master of the island now known as Penang), and marauding pirates made the higher, sturdier walls an absolute necessity for the young colony.
Other structures of note within the fort's walls include the Chapel on the southwest bastion, known as the earliest-surviving roofed structure on the island; the cannon, which ring the fort and defended the island from invaders.
One of the larger bronze cannons on the perimeter is a Dutch-manufactured piece called Seri Rambai, dating back to 1603. Local folklore attributes miraculous fertility powers to this cannon - women are encouraged to place flowers in the barrel to improve their chances of getting pregnant!
The moat which used to surround Fort Cornwallis was filled in during the 1920s due to the malaria caused by mosquitoes breeding in the foul moat water.
Modern facilities for tourists now occupy the fort - a tourist information kiosk, ampitheater, museum, and a souvenir shop can be found within the walls, together with smartly-dressed guides who can offer you valuable historical context for a small fee.
Getting to Fort Cornwallis: Fort Cornwallis is at Padang Kota Lama, near the Esplanade and right next to the Victoria Memorial Clock. Operating hours are 9am-6:30pm every day, including weekends. Admission charges apply: MYR 3.00 for adults, MYR 2.00 for kids. Fort Cornwallis is a stop along the following Rapid Penang Bus Routes: 102, 104, 105, and 204.
Penang offers a free Hop On Free Central Area Transit (CAT) bus service that serves a circuitous route between Weld Quay Jetty and Komtar in 15-minute intervals between 6am and midnight; Kapitan Keling Mosque is along the route. (more information here: Visit Penang - offsite)
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