Brick Kiln Road, George Town

Jalan Gurdwara

Brick Kiln Road is a road in George Town outside the heritage zone. Its original name and present-day character is reflective of how much developed George Town as a whole had become.

Brick Kiln Road was built for an industrial and working-class neighborhood when George Town began to expand beyond the Prangin Canal. In the earlier days, Brick Kiln Road was just a rural road leading south from Penang Road, at an angle from Dato Kramat Road. A brick kiln that existed in the area in the second half of the 19th century gave this road its name.

Brick Kiln Road marks the inland side of the nine (initially seven) parallel roads that were aligned with the Prangin Canal, and was given the Hokkien names of Koay Kangnga Thau Tiau Lor (first road after the river), which became Magazine Road, followed by the second, third roads, and so forth, until Sandilands Street makes up the nineth. The Sikh community established a settlement here in the 1880s. They were brought to Penang by Captain Speedy, who had hired them to police the volatile tin mining areas of Larut. There was a former police barracks for the Sikhs along Brick Kiln Road. The land was given to the Sikh community by the Resident Councillor of Penang in 1897 (probably Charles Walter Sneyd-Kynnersley) for them to build their temple. As it was the year of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, the temple became known as the Diamond Jubilee Sikh Gurdwara or Gurdwara Sahib Khalsa Dharmak Jatha. Today, the road takes its official name after the gurdwara.

Due to the presence of the switchback railway, to transport bricks and tin-ore, at Brick Kiln Road, it was known as Hong Chia Lor or "wind-carriage road" in Hokkien.

Getting there

From Komtar Bus Terminal, walk along Lebuh Tek Soon until Jalan Penang, then turn left, walk along Jalan Penang until the six-road (now five) junction with Jalan Magazine, Jalan Gurdwara, Jalan Dato Kramat and Jalan Macalister. Cross the junction to reach Jalan Gurdwara (Brick Kiln Road)

Sights along Brick Kiln Road

Diamond Jubilee Sikh Gurdwara

Shopping along Brick Kiln Road

GAMA Departmental Store & Supermarket

Click for list of Streets of George Town

In Other Words ...

In Hokkien: Hong Chia Lor (Wind Carriage Road)
In Malay: Bakar Bata (Brick Kiln)

Brick Kiln Road Location Map

Photos of Brick Kiln Road

View of Brick Kiln Road today (2 December 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

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Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs.