Buildings of great heritage value are found scattered across the state of Penang. But beyond the borders of the George Town UNESCO heritage core and buffer zones, pre-war edifices run the risk of being bulldozed in the name of development or of anything else. Quite a few of them are restored though, albeit often repurposed for contemporary uses. Here are some exciting examples.
Suffolk House
This is the only major Anglo-Indian mansion to be found outside India. Its origins are still a matter of dispute – its earliest depictions date from 1811, and whether the present house was built for Francis Light or William Edward Phillips remains debated. Whichever the case, anyone who has been to Suffolk House in recent times will tell you that it is a fine piece of work.
It hadn’t been that way for a long time. Matter of fact, it was almost demolished.
