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Restored Al Hisn Sharjah Fort opens to public as a museum

Al Hisn Sharjah Fort which is now open to the public as a museum, was once the residence of the Al Qasimi ruling family.

A visitor in Al Hisn Sharjah Fort on Sunday. —  KT photo by M. Sajjad

Sharjah - Five years is how long it took for the champion boxers Mayweather and Pacquiao to agree to fight a duel that finally took place yesterday.

In as much time, a small historical fort in the emirate of Sharjah had been turned into a state-of-the-art museum that once again opened its teak wood doors to the public.

Al Hisn Sharjah Fort which is now open to the public as a museum, was once the residence of the Al Qasimi ruling family. The museum was renovated previously in the 1990s. The cost of renovation has not been disclosed.

A guide at the fort museum, Iman Humaid said that since the museum reopened on April 22, they’ve been getting about 90 visitors a day. Entry to the museum is free until July 20, 2015.

To enable the grand opening, a conservation team of 10-12, according to curator Khouloud Mohammed Hamad Alhouli, worked for 15 months to restore the original appearance, colour and texture, and to get right certain aspects — the fort’s wind-scoops and columns.  She told Khaleej Times, the team went to India and the UK to visit archives, and “collect information and gather oral history”.

At the fort you get to see the materials that were used for the building of the fort — ceilings made of Chandal (mangrove poles), Kumbar (rope), Du’un (bound palm branches) and haseer (palm matts). The walls, 70-80cms thick, are plastered with corals, harvested from the Gulf seabed and held in place using Jus – a mortar formed by crushing and burning corals, limestone and shells.

The fort, with its Siris and almond trees, is nothing like its surroundings; the buildings in the vicinity are homes to gyms, hair salons, banks and toyshops. From the ramparts of the Al Muhalwasa tower — a fluted polygonal shaped tower once used to house prisoners — you can see a yellow crane pull down a high rise next door, mangled iron rods sticking out prominently.

 The prison and armoury

A darkened tower in Al Hisn, Al Muhalwasa that was once home to prisoners, can be seen illuminated only by a lantern. From 1967-1969 it was also a police station. The descriptive tags say that prisoners used to eat rice and fish.

Built in 1823 by Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi I, the fort today contains many photographs that adorns its 12 galleries. Much of the period the museum covers falls under the rule of Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi II.

Other highlights of the fort include the armoury and weapons gallery. On display is a selection from the Al Hisn armaments collection, including firearms, ammunition and traditional edged weapons, such as swords and daggers — Al Kattarah and Al Khanjar.

Those inclined to get a feel of the firearms are permitted to do so. Percussion shotguns, muskets, and four variations of the Martini Henry Rifles are displayed, along with the bullets. There is information on the wall about the 1902 firearms prohibition imposed by the British, along with the smuggling that got a head start because of the ban.

 Of the several social areas in the fort, Al Medbasa is the room in which Al Hisn residents would prepare dibs (date molasses). There are still grooves visible in the floor along which the dibs flowed into a pot set in the lowest corner.  Collecting dates was a social event, and the Medbasa enabled the residents of Al Hisn to be self-sufficient.

 The inner quarters

The Shaikh’s living quarters deserve browsing time, as well. In the bedroom is a gorgeous solid raised bed with a small ladder. Next to the bedroom is the Al Zeweya, a pantry-like small room that was used for coffee-brewing purposes.

   You see a Tawa (roasting pan), a Mehmass (coffee roaster), a Dallah (coffee pot), and a Mashab (used to fan the charcoal).

The bathing area, too, holds quaint wood and copper items no longer common in households.  The copper vessels, the sidr leaf powder (used to make soap), the Dhayah (natural resin wrapped in cotton), wooden stools, copper alloy basins, the samawer (the water heater), and the girhaf (wooden sandals), all contribute greatly to giving a visitor a well-rounded picture of life much before circa 2015.

The curator Alhouli says: “Al Hisn is done by the people for the people and the story is not yet finished.”

 nivriti@khaleejtimes.com