Symbols of Lion in Singapore 3

Lion relief roundels sculptured by Italian Rodolfo Nolli

Lion roundels located on the Crawford Bridge

Signed off by Rodolfo Nolli at the corner of the lion roundel

Lion roundels on the Elgin Bridge

Close up of the lion relief - possibly the cover for the gas man to turn on the gas for the bridge lights during the bygone days!

Lion Symbols of Singapore 2

Lion Statant ( Lion with both paws grounded with a coconut palm tree ) Symbol represented the Singapore Municipal ( Central Fire Brigade Station )

Lion Statant Symbol represented the Singapore Volunteer Corp ( SVC Drill Hall in Beach Road )

Lion Statant Symbol on the Jinricksha Station, Maxwell Road

Lion Statant Symbol representing the Singapore Volunteer Corps, together with badge symbols of SRA(V), MVC, PPWVC, SRE(V) on the side entrance porch

Lion Statant Symbol adopted by the Singapore Fire Brigade 1930's - 1970's. Incidentally, "Let Singapore Flourish" could be the colonial term adopted later for " Onward Singapore - Majullah Singapura" ( apologies for the poor quality photo )

Lion Symbols of Singapore 1

Lion Passant Guardant ( Lion paw raised ) on a tower in the first quadrant, Arms of the colony of the Straits Settlement ( Clifford Pier, Singapore )

Lion Passant Guardant ( Lion paw raised ) on a tower, crest on the main gate entrance to Old Kallang Airport

Lion Passant Guardant ( Lion paw raised ) on a tower in the first quadrant, Arms of the colony of the Straits Settlement ( Tanjong Pagar Railway Station )

The Lion of Singapore in crest, arms, coat of arms from 1911 to 1959

The Lion Knockers on the doors to leading into the Municipal Building / City Hall

The Arms of the Singapore Municipal Commissions was granted by letters patent on 9^th April 1948.

13^th of September 1948, the Royal Warrant was issued, granting a Coat of Arms to the Colony of Singapore

Singapore was reported to be presented with the “Lion passant (paw raised) guardant on a tower” as its coats of arms or charge by the colonial secretary when the Straits Settlements were governed directly from the Colonial Office, London 1^st April 1867.

This emblem was adopted on 4 March 1957 by the 1^st Singapore Infantry Regiment upon its inception, as its Cap Badge. This emblem is still used on the gold buttons of the present day Singapore Armed Forces ceremonial dress.

It can also be found at the gate entrance to the Old Kallang Airport – which was opened in 12 June 1937, when the Director of Public Works, Major RL Nunn addressed the opening speech.

On 25^th March 1911, the charge i.e. gold lion passant guardant on a white tower was present in the Arms of the Colony of the Straits Settlements in the first quarter of the quartered shield representing each settlement; with Penang (An Areca palm – Pinang) in the 2^nd quarter, a sprig of leaves and fruits of the Keruing Tree representing Malacca on the 3^rd quarter and a schooner headed towards Mount Kinabalu in the last quarter, depicting Labuan.

The Lion Statant – a lion with both paws grounded with a coconut palm tree, was also used to represent the Singapore Municipal Commissions. How this came about was unclear?

The Municipal Authority of Singapore existed from the 1820’s to 1930’s. By 1929, there were 7 standing municipal committees, each having 5 or more commissions, with work as follows;

1. Secretariat, assessment , vehicles and dog registrations
2. Health, markets, slaughterhouses, town cleansing, sewerage & street watering
3. Municipal Engineers Department, roads, canals, piers, bridges, drainage, stores
4. Buildings, Architects department and the fire brigade
5. Water, gas, Electrical department
6. Parks & Open spaces
7. Finance & General purpose

The lion with the palm tree emblem has been adopted by the Singapore Volunteer Corps from 1928 and the Singapore Fire Brigade

The Arms of the Singapore Municipal Commissions was granted by letters patent on 9^th April 1948. The official heraldic blazon for Singapore was:

“The arms of the municipal commissions featured a gold lion passant guardant on a white tower, as per the first quarter on the 1911 arms of the Straits Settlements. The charged pair of blue wings between two blue anchors represented the trade hub role of Singapore. These were featured in the shield.

The arms of Singapore used the crest of the Singapore Municipal Commissions, a lion statant with a coconut palm tree. The new arms crest however, has the lion as a lion passant (paw raised) and not statant. The wreath was emblazoned in blue and silver. The motto scrolled was “Majullah Singapura” in Malay – translated then to English was “Let Singapore Flourish”? – The English version motto could be found on the helmet plate of the Singapore Fire Brigade.

On 13^th of September 1948, the Royal Warrant was issued, granting a Coat of Arms to the Colony of Singapore. Again, the shield featured a gold lion passant guardant on a tower, but the crest was a demi-lion rampant guardant holding the banner which was attached to a staff, with a red inverted pall, charged with a single crown on a white field. The wreath was emblazoned in gold and red.

In December 1959, when Singapore attained self government as a State of Singapore, the present flag and Coat of Arms, with the lion holding on to the shield of the crescent moon and five stars, has since been adopted

Prewar Terrace Houses 2.5 to 3 storeys around Everton Road area, Singapore

Examples of Prewar Terrace Houses ( Shophouses ) - Some possibly had 2.5 storeys ie attic like floor with smaller windows for ventilation and light ; compared with "full" floor with french windows- unfortunately I have not had a chance to visit the interiors to view the configuration.

Prewar Terrace Houses (shophouse) in Blair Road

Prewar Terraced houses for residential use in Blair Road. These houses were considered as linear linked houses based on British terraced houses designs - the living spaces in the front and the top floor of the house, with the kitchen and toilets at the back. Prewar versions had inner courtyards or airwells, front yards and rear yards or both. Later developements had the front yard lengthened for a parked vehicle, otherwise it was a small garden.

As many of these houses have been adapted for commercial usage, they were loosely termed Prewar shophouses in certain areas. Prewar shophouses had the ground floor for business activities whereas the upper floors were residential and/or offices; should there be three floors.

1960's Red Light / Concubine District - Prewar Shophouses Keong Saik Road, Singapore

Keong Saik Road was officially named after a prominent chinese in Singapore, Tan Keong Saik in 1926. Educated in an English school in Penang, Keong Saik was once a Municipal Commissioner during British Malaya in Singapore and was the director of both the Tanjong Pagar Dock Ltd and the Straits Steamship Co Ltd. He was also active in the Chinese Community, being a member of the Chinese Advisory Board, with a strong interest in educating Chinese Women.

Irony was, Keong Saik road was famous for its brothels in the 1960's and the shophouses were also reputed to house mistresses/concubines for rich merchants

Pictures above showing the restored shophouses along the road, with pastel colours painted facades.