In 1786, soon after taking possession of the island, Francis Light erected a fort of nibong palm at the tip of the cape which was called Fort Point and named after the Governor-General in Bengal-Charles Cornwallis. This fort was later reconstructed in the same size, shape and layout. Convict labor that was first imported in 1789 was immediately put to work out on the fort by Francis Light to rebuild the fort in brick for 67,000 Spanish Dollar in 1793.
Fort Cornwallis was the first military and administrative base of the East India Company and the garrison of Fort Cornwallis consisted of a handful of Europeans, who reside within the fort, and Sepoys, who dwelt in attap huts next to the fort. Previously surrounded with a 27-foot wide and 6 feet deep moat, it was filled in about a century ago due to malaria.
Today, relics such as the chapel, store, cell rooms and the gun power magazine are still visible on this fort. History galleries from the early 1700 and the staff with colonial costume now is part of the attraction to visit this fort.
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