A FIVE-FOOTWAY IN CHINATOWN
View of five-foot way with rattan baskets and sieves, iron woks and earthen stoves, and other wares hanging outside shops in Chinatown. An unique feature of Malaya's shophouses, "five-foot way" was introduced by the town planners when Sir Stamford Raffles stipulated that shophouses must have a covered walkway of about five feet along its street front. These walkways were meant to protect pedestrians from the hot tropical sun and rain. Business could be conducted along these five-foot ways and thus the phrase "five-foot-way traders".
1962
19990003437 - 0001
91,114/4A
2005-006578-KFW
Viewing permitted. Use and reproduction only with permission.
Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Photograph taken by Wong Ken Foo (K F Wong)

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View of five-foot way with rattan baskets and sieves, iron woks and earthen stoves, and other wares hanging outside shops in Chinatown. An unique feature of Malaya's shophouses, "five-foot way" was introduced by the town planners when Sir Stamford Raffles stipulated that shophouses must have a covered walkway of about five feet along its street front. These walkways were meant to protect pedestrians from the hot tropical sun and rain. Business could be conducted along these five-foot ways and thus the phrase "five-foot-way traders".

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