Old Protestant Cemetery, Penang

The Old Protestant Cemetery is located in an obscure location along Northam Road, at the top of Penang Road. Established in 1789, the cemetery is no longer in use and has been classified as a heritage site and currently maintained by the Penang Heritage Trust. The last known burial at this cemetery was in 1892.

The cemetery is of significant historic interest, as it was the first christian burial ground consecrated in Penang after its founding by Francis Light in 1786. It is notable for  being the final resting places of many of Penang's earliest and influential residents, including three Governors of Penang and the founder of the island himself, Francis Light.

Today, the cemetery is rarely visited by anyone including tourists, giving it an eerie almost forlorn appearance. However despite its state of dilapidation and disrepair, it is still worth a visit to see the old graves amidst a grove of gnarled old frangipani trees.

Strolling through the grounds, you seem a world away from the busy streets of Penang, as you walk amongst the headstones. Looking at the names from generations ago, it seems sad that most of those lying here were very young, mostly below 50 years of age, a testament of the difficult times these Europeans from far far away had in the Orient.

Entrance to the cemetery, off Northam Road.

Founded in 1789.

A green wooded cemetery.

The graves are sadly in a state of disrepair.

Frangipani trees.

An almost eerie experience under the gnarled trees.

One of the graves.

Many graves are now unmarked.

Dilapidated graves in green surroundings.

Surgeon, dead at 30.

Police inspector, dead at 33 years.

Chief Engineer.

Accountant.

Francis Light, the founder of Penang is also buried here.

The grounds are also a known haunt of drug addicts, exercise caution when visiting.

William Petrie, fifth Governor of Penang.

The sixth British Governor of Penang.

The Old Protestant Cemetery is worth a stop to visit, experience and appreciate Penang's colourful history, especially its colonial past as an outpost of Britain in the Far East.