 Bras Basah Road, Singapore
Bras Basah Road is a street in the Museum Planning Area and Downtown Core of Singapore. It runs east to west in one direction.
Bras Basah Road starts from Orchard Road, at the junction with Handy Road, where the ERP gantry marks the entrance to the Central Business District, and ends at the junction with Nicoll Highway, from where it continues as Raffles Boulevard. Along the way, it forms junctions and intersections with Kirk Terrace, Prinsep Street, Bencoolen Street, Waterloo Street, Queen Street, Victoria Street, North Bridge Road and Beach Road.
Bras Basah Road was said to have been named after rice that was laid out in the sun to dry. It was constructed using convict labour. Until 1822, it may have been two roads which were later renamed as one. Between North Bridge Road and Beach Road, it was called Church Street, due to the Missionary Society chapel that stood there. Between North Bridge Road and Selegie Hill it was called Selegy Street. In a 1826 lease, the road was referred to as Cross Road. Stamford Raffles is said to have also suggested that it be called College Street.
Bras Basah Road was known by various names among the Chinese. Among the names are:
- Lau Khakukeng Khau: "(Street) facing the old prison". This name came about there was a jail between Stamford Road and Bras Basah Road.
- He-lang Xi Libai Tang "Beside the French church". A name in reference to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd along the road.
- Tek-kok Seng-long "German Pharmacy" in reference to a pharmacy that used to be located there.
- Hai-kee Angmo Tua-Or Phee "Beside the Seaside European High School," probably in reference to Raffles Institution that used to be located there.
Sights along Bras Basah Road
The following are the sights along Bras Basah Road today:
- Civilian War Memorial
Chopsticks-like monument within the War Memorial Park.
- Raffles Hotel
One of the most famous and grandest hotels in Singapore.
- Raffles City
Retail, hotel and entertainment complex.
- CHIJMES
Formerly the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School, today a mixed retail and food complex.
- Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
Roman Catholic cathedral and one of the oldest churches in Singapore.
- Singapore Art Museum
Museum housed in the former St Joseph's Institution building.
- The Cathay
17-storey cineplex with mall and apartments.
Learn more about the Streets of Singapore
If you wish to learn more about the streets of Singapore, I recommend that you get a copy of the Toponymics: A Study of Singapore Street Names (Geography & Environment Research) by Victor R. Savage and Brenda S.A. Yeoh (Eastern Universities Press by Marshall Cavendish, ISBN 981 210 364 3). It helped me a lot in broadening my knowledge of the streets, and made it more fun when I explored and get to know them personally.
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