Cecil Street, Penang (1 January 2018)
Cecil Street (Malay: Lebuh Cecil;
Penang Hokkien: Chit1-Tiau3 Lor33

) is one of the nine parallel roads that formed the working class neighbourhood located south of the
Prangin Canal. The working-class neighbourhood south of the canal is collectively known as the
Seven Streets Precinct. From January 2016, traffic flow on Cecil Street is eastbound from
Brick Kiln Road (Jalan Gurdwara) to
McNair Street, and westbound from
Bridge Street (Jalan C.Y. Choy) to McNair Street. This is a change from the previous two-way flow, to prevent accidents that occur from vehicles having to cut across McNair Street.
Cecil Street was named after Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, the
Governor of the Straits Settlements between 1887 and 1893 (by the way Wikipedia incorrectly states that it was named after Sir Cecil Clementi, the
nephew of Cecil Clementi Smith, who was Governor between 1930 and 1934, by which time, Cecil Street had long been built).
Cecil Street is noted for the variety of its urban residential architecture. At the junction with McNair Street are pre-war houses isa remarkably well-preserved state. The double-storey townhouse on the north side of the intersection has a verandah overhanging McNair Street below. Across the road from the Cecil Street Market are a number of houses in the
Arts and Crafts style, also in a well-preserved condition.
Cecil Street extends towards the shore as
Cecil Street Ghaut. Until the late 1980s, Cecil Street Ghaut was a minor road leading to the semi-swampy coast. Since then, land reclamation has enabled urban development of the area, which forms part of the
Macallum Street Ghaut neighbourhood.
Cecil Street is known in
Hokkien as Chit1 Tiau3 Lor33

meaning "7th road". It is short for Koay1 Kang1nga4 Te33-Chit1-Tiau3 Lor33 ("7th road across the canal").
Sights along Cecil Street
Getting there
The nearest bus stop is on
McNair Street served by
Rapid Penang Bus
302 and
401.
Cecil Street, George Town, at junction with Bridge Street (6 February 2013)
Arts and Crafts-style shophouses on Cecil Street (5 August 2012)
Cecil Street junction with Brick Kiln Road (3 February 2013)
Cecil Street, George Town, at junction with McNair Street (2 December 2008)
Wooden balcony of house on Cecil Street overhanging McNair Street (30 July 2012)
Lebuh Cecil road sign at Brick Kiln Road junction (3 February 2013)
Lebuh Cecil road sign at junction with Bridge Street (6 February 2013)
Old Cecil Street road sign (2 December 2008)
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2003-2025 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.