Pulau Seribu Bidadari Martello Castle

Onrust The Main IslandOnrust, Bidadari (sakit), Kelor and Cipir islands represent one unity whithin VOC-Dutch devensive system in order to maintain Batavia city since the 17th century up to middle of 19th century.
Previously the development of Onrust island as any place of ship repair in the year 1615. It also on the approval of Jayakarta Authority, but when there ia any conflict among the Dutch Colonialist and Jayakarta Government, this Onrust Island had been prepared as military base camp to make easier the invation against Jayakarta in the year 1619.
After Jayakarta had been conquered, Onrust island is strengthenized more by VOC through establising castle and other building in which such works is commenced from 1786 and go on progress continuesly up to 1800. At those establisments not only developed Onrust island but also other island such as Bidadari Island, Kelor Island and Cipir Island.

For during three Bidadari, Kelor, Cipir and Onrust island had been invide by Britanians since in the year 1800, 1806 and 1810. On each invation, Britanians had destroyed the existing building. And after any invations as soon as possible reestablish it. But in the last Britanian invation Onrust island and its surrounder had ever been neglected for almost twenty years.



The Watch Islands
in the year 1827, Pulau Bidadari, Cipir, Kelor and Onrust had been obtained any attention again by Baron Vander Capellan, but its completion just had been commence on the next year, specially for Onrust island establishment than other islands. Finnaly, may had beed worked according to the plan, Consistently, the Dutch Colonialist Government will to erect the controller tower and simultaneously, also have function as castle (s) forthe nearer island with Onrust Island on Onrust island self.

Through the confidential decision, on the date of january 21st 1849, the Dutch colonialist Government had decided to establish a maritime location which is strenghtened on the North West of Sea of Java Island. its mean so asto be assisted by sea force. if there is battle at such location aside from as a shelter and defensive for Dutch Warship. The aimed location is sea territorial hemmed by Pulau Bidadari, Cipir, Kelor and Onrust.
in those locations had been establising some controller tower and also as oval and high shaped-defensive castle with small and large window equipped with cannon ready to block the enemy.

Presently, the building of controller tower having be still watched is tower found at pulau Bidadari, Kelor and Cipir.
At Cipir island just remain its foundation wherease at Onrust island had not be found its remains
How the Type of Pulau Bidadari Castle
Prior to make an archeological excavating of controller tower building at this Pulau Bidadari, its shape may not be seen due the all such building surfaces had been covered by ruins and planted by some big trees and coarse grasses. But finally after doing research dan digging by the service of History and museum of DKI Jaya may be recovered the ruins shape of such tower building.Building with function as castlle and controller tower at this pulau Bidadari have the shape of oval with diameter +23 meters and the thickness of wall 2,6 meter, within this building there are some small and big windows and in the inner found 7 basement rooms separated among partition of brickstones. On of closed rooms have function as amunition storag, in the middle there is one circle wall againtobe deposited a clean water for the requirement of drink adn cook of the being guard soldier(s).This controller tower at Pulau Bidadari is the two levels building, it amy be proven through the existing support holes of flor bars. The rooms at this second floor hava a similiar size with first floor and its number also same i.e seven rooms. May be these rooms in the second floor have function as the rest espionage rooms. Directly, the main gate of this building toward the second floor.

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