Author's Page



Christopher J. Williams is a writer of hidden history—stories that haunt the official record or are overlooked by mainstream historians. In Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History, he draws on years of local investigation, a career in Asian trade and commerce, and a librarian’s eye for detail to uncover the remarkable story behind Singapore’s forgotten royal palaces: Istana Woodneuk and Istana Tyersall.

Having once lived next door to their overgrown remains, Christopher explores the urban myths that shroud these sites in mystery. He weaves a vivid narrative of the palaces, the larger-than-life figures connected to them, and their unexpected role in shaping the region’s modern identity.

Born in a Yorkshire coal mining village to a family of educators, Christopher has roots in the ancient county of Westmorland. He studied Librarianship at Northumbria University and worked briefly at The Economist before leaving England in the early 1990s. Travel soon awakened his passion for history grounded in place—where events are shaped as much by geography and weather as by politics or power.

He settled in Hong Kong in 1993, working for one of the world’s leading media companies for 15 years. In 2007, he relocated to Singapore, where he took on a senior leadership role at a global travel firm.

Christopher’s writing brings Asian history to life in an accessible and engaging style. His work uncovers lost narratives and connects overlooked details to enrich the broader historical record.

In 2021, he committed to writing full-time. His first book, Palace of Ghosts, was published in March 2025. He now lives in Sri Lanka, where he is researching his next book.

Popular posts from this blog

"Singapore Swaps Prime Land With Malaysia Billionaire King’s Son"

Image
Tyersall Estate Deal Raises Eyebrows—and Ghosts of the Past The Tyersall estate—where the overgrown ruins of Istana Woodneuk still stand shrouded in tangled greenery—burst back into the headlines this week after a land deal between the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, and the Singapore government. The once-grand palace, now a silent shell hidden behind the Botanic Gardens, has long been the subject of public fascination. This latest development raises fresh questions—not only about real estate, but about the layers of history buried beneath the estate’s moss-covered foundations. Learn more in Palace of Ghosts For years, any hope of development had been stymied by the Singapore government’s zoning restrictions, which designated the Tyersall land for “special use.” But now, a deal has been struck. A portion of the Regent’s land will be swapped for a nearby government-owned plot. Here’s the irony: the land the government is giving up was originally acquired in 2005 through a compuls...
Read more

Part 4. The 1934 Royal Visit to Japan

Image
In the last post  we traced the evolution of the Japanese presence in Southeast Asia during the half century or so before the outbreak of World War II (WWII). In this post the tables are turned–sort of–as Southeast Asia's richest potentate embarked on a historic journey to Japan. Read on to discover  how Sultan Ibrahim was received by the highest echelons of Tokyo’s imperial and political elite. Read Part 3 here
Read more

The Tragic Life of Lydia Cecilia Hill

Image
In today’s world, it might be hard to feel much sympathy for someone like Lydia Cecilia Hill. And yet, the young woman known to us as Cecily in Palace of Ghosts emerges as a figure steeped in quiet tragedy, her story threaded with a sense of elegy. It is easy to imagine that some fragile echo of her spirit still clings to the decaying walls of Istana Woodneuk, where she stayed for a brief visit in the 1930s — a fleeting presence now folded into the mansion’s long twilight. Lydia Cecilia Hill (1913-1940) photograph from 1938 Find out more: read the story A Familiar Story Imagine this: a teenage girl with little formal education, from a small country town, but gifted with striking beauty and irresistible talent; she lands a job at a prestigious London dance club. There, she meets a man decades her senior—wealthy, worldly, powerful and handsome. He lavishes her with gifts, praise, and affection. To her, it must have felt like the start of a dazzling new life. It’s a story we’ve heard bef...
Read more