You might come across Raffles hotels around the world, thirteen of them (in 2019) at destinations such as: Dubai; Istanbul, turkey; Jakarta, Indonesia; Mecca, Saudi Arabia; Paris, France; Warsaw, Poland; the Seychelles and Singapore. Raffles started in Singapore.
Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Photo by Elisa.rolle from Wikipedia.
Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Raffles Hotel is still a landmark in Singapore, on Beach Road, which was originally a beachfront Road, before Singapore started expanding.
Raffles Hotel is still a favourite destination for those wanting to try Singapore Sling where it was invented, in Raffles Bar. (You can also try Singapore Sling on Singapore Airlines.)
Singapore Sling.
Raffles. White Statue. Singapore. Photo from Wikipedia.
Sir Stamford RafflesRaffles, the man, is a story of a rollercoaster life. He did a great deal to put Singapore on the map. The outlines of the port were established, and the segregated quarters you can still see today, Chinatown and Little India.
Covered Ways
Under Raffles' direction came the covered famous five foot way, sheltering pedestrians walking in both directions to pass each other, protected from the sun and rain, with room to pass a trolley carrying goods in both directions.
Covered ways have recently been extended to cover public walkways in Singapore, starting with high traffic areas, between the MRT stations and public housing blocks (HDBs) and schools.
Raffles Hotel
The old Raffles hotel has been refurbished and extended so it now contains numerous shops and eating areas where you can eat at various speeds and prices. The bedroom blocks have been separated. Such is the popularity of the hotel, that you have to book a guided tour.
Raffles Statues
Statues of Raffles can be seen in the hotel and other points of the city. Near Raffles Hotel in Singapore is the Raffles Place MRT (underground railway - in the suburbs becoming overground).
1 Bronze statue in front of Victoria Theatre by the Padang (green).
2 White marble statue on the waterfront.
Sir Stamford Raffles' Life
Raffles led and up and down life. After moderate success he reached what many would consider his high point, establishing and governing the new port.
His first wife died. You can see her grave in the Botanical gardens he founded.
He remarried. However, for him things did not end well. His children, three of them, died in the East.
On the way back to England, he lost his goods in a fire on board ship. The ship was in dock, so the people survived, but the precious document were destroyed.
His only daughter died on the eve of her wedding.
He was involved in a court case about loss of money and had to pay a huge sum, and his reputation was damaged.
It looked like he had lost everything, his treasured worldly possessions, his money, his daughter, descendants, reputation.
However, after he died, his widow (the second wife) fought tirelessly to have his reputation re-established. He was cleared of wrongdoing.
Posthumous Success
What did he leave behind?
1 The foundation of Singapore.
2 London zoo.
3 The Botanical Gardens in Asia.
Now the hotel named after him is world famous. His name is the epitome of luxury and success and history. His statues are in Singapore and his name is known worldwide.
I have visited the hotel in Singapore many times, before and after the latest refurbishment. I visited the hotel's museum and saw the stage play performed in the hotel.
More recently, I have taken photos of his statues in Singapore, in the hotel and outside Victoria theatre and on the waterfront.
Raffles in London, England
I also made a pilgrimage to his forgotten and unassuming burial place in a church in Hendon. The church vicar would not allow the body to be buried in the church, because Sir Stamford Raffles had been anti slavery and the vicar's family made their money in slavery. Years later, the church was extended, the body was found and identified as being that of Raffles, and a plaque was inserted in the floor of the church.
I had been hoping for something more. But at least I had found it.
Books and Background Research
I first read the book about him when I was a member of the Friends of The Museum in Singapore which had study groups about the history of Asia.
What an extraordinary life he led! What a horrific yet inspiring story of ups and downs. If you want to know more, visit Raffles Hotel in Singapore, check out the other Raffles hotels. Look in Wikipedia for a quick summary and when you have time read the paperback books about his life.
He died in 1826 aged only 44.
LATEST NEWS
Raffles Hotel was featured in the film Crazy Rich Asians in 2018.
The hotel is being renovated, due to re-open in mid 2019, taking bookings for August 2019. The gift shop on 3 Seah Street is open.
What To See
LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
1 Statue of seated Raffles, life size, on a cylinder plinth. In Westminster Abbey, London, England.
2 Plaque on floor of St Mary's Church, Hendon, London, England.
SINGAPORE
1 Bust of Raffles in Raffles Hotel, Singapore.
2 Statue outside Victoria Theatre.
3 Statue on waterfront.
Raffles City, MRT station, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
SINGAPORE
Names To Note
Raffles Place (MRT station)
Stamford Way (street in Singapore).
BOGOR, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA
Monument to Raffles' first wife, Olivia, in Bogor Botanical Gardens, Bogor, Indonesia (previously called National Botanical Gardens) West Java.
Useful Websites
Raffles Hotel, Singapore
raffleshotel.com
Raffles Hotels
https://www.raffles.com/
Singapore Airlines (Raffles class is business class)
singaporeair.com
Books
The Duke of Puddle Dock
In The Footsteps of Stamford Raffles by Nigel Barley. (See Amazon and Ebay.)
https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Puddle-Dock-Footsteps-Stamford/dp/0805019685
UK Travel
visitbritain.com
visitbritainshop.com.
SINGAPORE TRAVEL
visitsingapore.com
INDONESIA TRAVEL
indonesiatouristboard.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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