Duxton Road, Singapore (11 July 2011)
Duxton Road is a minor road in the
Chinatown neighbourhood of
Outram, Singapore. It is a one-way street that starts at
Neil Road. Short and narrow, it passed through a quiet part of downtown to end at
Craig Road. It forms only one intersection, with Duxton Hill.
On both sides of Duxton Road are Straits Eclectic shophouses. Many have been restored, and some are repainted in shocking colours - bright red, orange and blue. There is a concentration of pubs and bistros in this area, the same with the other small streets in the area.
Duxton Road was named after a house belonging to Dr J. William Montgomerie (1797-1856), who served the British colonial government in Singapore, eventually becoming the Assistant Surgeon. He owns the 13-hectare nutmeg plantation in the area that encompasses presently Duxton Road, Duxton Hill and Craig Road.
Duxton Road was created in 1856, along with Craig Road and Duxton Hill, following the sale of the plantation and the development of the area. In the early days, the terrace houses in Duxton Road used to house rickshaw pullers who turned the place into a slum. The area was known among the Hokkiens as Kampong Kia Nai ("inside a small village") or Kampong Ah Lai ("Ah Lai's village".
Duxton Road roadsign (29 July 2017)
Duxton Road, Singapore (9 July, 2006)
Duxton Road on Google Street View
(Dec 2017)
References
- Singapore Street Names by Victor R Savage and Brenda S.A. Yeoh (2004), ISBN 981-210-364-3