The Thomas Parr Monument (Indonesian: Tugu Thomas Parr) is a monument located in

Bengkulu Bengkulu (), historically known as Bencoolen, is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the southwest coast of Sumatra. It was formed on 18 November 1968 by separating out the area of the historic Bencoolen Residency from the province of ...

, Indonesia and dedicated to Thomas Parr, the British

Resident Resident may refer to: People and functions * Resident minister, a representative of a government in a foreign country * Resident (medicine), a stage of postgraduate medical training * Resident (pharmacy), a stage of postgraduate pharmaceut ...

who was killed in 1807. Constructed the year after his death, it is considered a

cultural property of Indonesia Cultural properties of Indonesia are those items defined by Indonesian law as of "important value for history, science, and culture", and include both man-made artefacts and natural objects. The cultural properties number more than 8,000 and inc ...

Location

The Thomas Parr Monument is located along Ahmad Yani Street, in the Kampung Cina (Chinatown) subdistrict of

Bengkulu City Bengkulu (; Rejangese language, Rejangese: ), formerly Bencoolen (Dutch language, Dutch: ''Benkoelen'') is the capital of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of Bengkulu. The city is the second largest city on the west coast of Sumat ...

. It is not far from the city center, and easily accessed. The monument is located approximately southeast of

Fort Marlborough Fort Marlborough (Indonesian Benteng Marlborough, also known as Malabero) is a former East India Company fort located in Bengkulu (city), Bengkulu City, Sumatra. It was built between 1713 and 1719 by the East India Company under the leadership of ...

, the former British stronghold in the region. This location was originally near the buildings housing the British

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

government and ruling council. However, since then the area has become predominantly commercial, with several shops and a post office located near the monument.

Description

The Thomas Parr Monument is octagonal in shape, covering a total area of . Three arched openings provide entrance, and six Tuscan or Roman Doric columns surround the monument. The monument is topped with a dome. Owing to this dome, the mausoleum is also known locally as "Kuburan Bulek" ('Round Grave'). A wooden plaque lies within the monument, though it is illegible. Alan Harfield, in his 1985 discussion of the British graveyard and monuments in Bengkulu, quotes it as follows: Around the monument is a small park, with trees and other plants. The park is, in turn, surrounded by an iron fence.

History

Bengkulu (then known as Bencoolen) fell under control of the

Honourable East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

during the 17th century. The company constructed a fortress, Fort Marlborough, and began to govern the region. In 1805, Thomas Parr was appointed

of Bencoolen, and introduced the large-scale production of

coffee Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially a ...

into the region. The monument described Parr as "a benevolent Father" to the Malay residents of Bengkulu, while Indonesian sources describe him as an "arrogant and ferocious man" who constantly interfered with the traditional customs of the Bengkulu populace. During a rebellion against his administration on 27 September 1807, Parr and his aide Charles Murray were killed; three men entered his home, Mount Felix, stabbing and decapitating Parr and inflicting fatal wounds upon Murray. The East India Company quashed the rebellion, and the following year, a monument was constructed to honor Parr. Though the monument was built as a memorial to Parr and his death, the people of Bengkulu have reinterpreted it as a testament to their willingness to defend their land rights and traditional customs. The monument is a

. Sign in front of the monument

References

Works cited

* * * * * {{Coord, 3, 47, 19.47, S, 102, 15, 2.53, E, type:landmark_dim:30, display=title Bengkulu (city) Cultural Properties of Indonesia in Bengkulu Buildings and structures in Bengkulu Tourist attractions in Bengkulu 1808 establishments in Asia Monuments and memorials in Indonesia