Fort Marlborough, British colonial fortress in Bengkulu City, Indonesia.
Fort Marlborough is a British colonial fortress in Bengkulu City on the west coast of Sumatra, perched on an artificial hill overlooking the sea. The rectangular compound has thick brick walls, four corner watchtowers, and a dry moat surrounding the entire structure.
The East India Company built the fortress between 1713 and 1719 under Governor Joseph Collett to protect its trading posts against local rulers and European rivals. The compound later served as the administrative center of the British colony of Bencoolen until its transfer to the Dutch in 1824.
The name honors the Duke of Marlborough, an English military commander from the early 18th century whose European victories inspired the East India Company. The fortress displays typical British features such as symmetrical bastions and wide firing slits, which visitors can examine closely today.
The fortress sits centrally on Jalan Benteng near the coast and is easily reached on foot or by public transport from most parts of the city. The compound is open during daylight hours, and visitors should wear sturdy shoes as some stairs and pathways can be uneven.
The compound briefly served as a prison for Sukarno, who later became Indonesia's first president, during his internal exile under Dutch administration in the 1930s. Visitors can still see the cells and living quarters where political prisoners were held.
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