The Runnymede was one of Penang's top hotels right up to WW2. After the war the government took over control of the property and in recent years the site was being used as a military base. When the military finally moved out in 2000, the property was left derelict and fell into a terrible state of condition.

During the Chinese New Year holiday break in February 2016, major demolition work begun on site for a new development project. The demolition cleared away key historically important buildings dating from the early 1800's. Demolition work however spared the later built 1930's main hotel building which will somehow be incorporated into the new project. Either way, the historical value of this location has well and truly been obliterated.


The Star Newspaper - Historian: Raffles built Runnymede in 1808