Heritage Sites – Colour Dots

Adderley Street Cape Town

carynkaleido — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:26:36 +0000

In 1850, Adderley Street was so named in honour of Charles Bowyer Adderley, who supported the campaign against British plans to use the Cape as a penal colony for convicts. Residents renamed the street as a gesture of appreciation for his efforts. Adderley Street later developed into Cape Town’s main commercial and civic thoroughfare. Early banks, department stores and government offices were established here, making it a central part of the city’s business district. The street originally connected the Company’s Garden with the harbour, placing it at the heart of trade and daily activity. Later foreshore reclamation projects pushed the coastline further outward, changing its original relationship with the sea. Adderley Street was originally paved entirely with wooden blocks. By the 1900’s, the street had become very busy and noisy. The city planners paved it with wood in an attempt to muffle the noise. Traffic consisted of many wagons, carts and horses. A construction crew upgrading the city’s pedestrian and cycle lanes uncovered the closely fitted wooden setts (cobbles) while they were digging up the road surface in August 2010. Heritage Western Cape stepped in after the discovery was made to conserve part of the city’s history. Before the street was paved over, it was a Graaght(canal). Read the story of Cape Town’s water Find the flower sellers

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Auwal mosque

carynkaleido — Tue, 10 May 2022 14:00:59 +0000

Auwal mosque: In September 1794, a Vrye Zwarten (free black) Muslim by the name of Coridon of Ceylon bought two properties on Dorp Street in the centre of Cape Town. He was the first black Muslim to own property in Cape Town. When he died, his wife Trijn van de Kaap inherited the properties. She sold them in 1809 to Saartjie van die Kaap, who was her daughter. In 1794, Saartjie donated land for the building of a masjid. While imprisoned on Robben Island, the mosque’s first Imam, Tuan Guru, wrote the entire Holy Quran completely from memory. His handwritten copy is still preserved inside the mosque. He was released in 1793. Up to that point, an open-air Jumu’ah Saldh [Friday congregational prayers] was held in a disused quarry in Chiappini Street. Tuan Guru, also known as Imam Abdullah, led the Cape Muslims in the Salah. The construction of the Auwal Mosque was made possible by General Craig who permitted Muslims to pray in public in the Cape Colony. Additions to the building were made in 1807. This was the first Masjid (mosque in South Africa. It was built during the time of slavery and became a centre of Muslim communal activity. Every Sunday, you can get Akni to take away outside the mosque, 083 258 7804 39 Dorp Street, Bo Kaap info@auwalmasjid.co.za Auwal Mosque,was established in 1794, Itis the oldest mosque in South Africa. The mosque was built entirely from memory and oral tradition without any formal blueprints. While imprisoned on Robben Island, the mosque’s first Imam, Tuan Guru, wrote the entire Holy Quran completely from memory. His handwritten copy is still preserved inside the mosque.

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Bailey’s Cottage Beach

carynkaleido — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 10:56:51 +0000

Bailey’s Cottage Beach is not much more than a patch of sand between two rocky points. Swimming here is not advisable, but the rock pools are worth exploring. The remote little beach is popular with fishermen who catch Steenbras and/or Galjoen among other species, depending on the season. It is, however, of historical interest. Just above the beach is Bailey’s Cottage. Known as Falangisina @ Bailey’s Cottage. This building was designed as a beach holiday hideaway for Sir Abe Bailey, the Diamond Tycoon and a good friend of Cecil John Rhodes. In 1909. It was also used as a lookout post and policing station, keeping an eye out for enemy ships and illegal trading over the years. . The stone bungalow is now a Guest House. There is parking available, and dogs are allowed if they are kept on a leash. Just above Bailey’s cottage is an open stretch of lawn called Battle of Muizenberg Fort, where the Dutch (who had ruled the Cape since 1652) made a stand against the invading British forces in 1795. The battle lasted a mere 30 minutes, but the Dutch lost their important replenishing station on the sea route to the East. Shells can often be found on this beach, especially after winter storms and low tide. If you plan to collect shells, please follow local regulations and take only empty shells. Shell identification guide Parking: On the main road Lifeguards: ,No Surfing: Surf report Swimming: Not advised Fishing: Yes see the illustrated guide to sea fishing Dog walking; No dogs allowed Ablutions: No Beach type: Rocky and small Picnic and braai: No braai facilities Check the tides here Fishing in the Western Cape article Best beaches in the Western Cape article Find our comprehensive Western Cape travel guide for things to see and do.

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Bath of Bethesda Robben island

carynkaleido — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 09:54:29 +0000

The Bath of Bethesda tidal pool was built in 1845 on Robben Island when it was a leper colony. It was considered to be therapeutic for leprosy victims. This pool can still be seen today.

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Beacon Island Whaling Station

carynkaleido — Tue, 10 May 2022 08:44:39 +0000

Beacon Island Whaling Station: Whaling in Plettenberg Bay was started in 1834 by John Sinclair. The first ship loaded with whale oil left that year. Other men such as Cornelius Watson and Percy Toplis were also looking to make their fortunes in whaling. They obtained a lease to use Beacon Island as a whaling station. The station was later sold to the Thesen family. They invested a lot of money hoping it would turn a profit. Norwegian whaling experts were brought to Plettenberg Bay but alas the operation was not successful and it ended in 1916. The world war also put obstacles in the way of exports. The Norwegians however took over the whaling station and brought an entire house from Norway in which Captain Jacob Odland who was the project manager stayed. When whaling stopped, the building became Hopwood’s boarding house then became Angler’s Inn. The first Beacon Island hotel was built in 1940 by Owen Grant and the hotel standing there today was built in 1972 Today you can still see one of the original iron pots that were used to boil the blubber in order to extract the oil. There are also some harpoons left from that time. Harpoon Cauldron for boiling whale fat Main image, Beacon Island Whaling Station when it was still operational Plettenberg Bay

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Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel picnic and high tea

carynkaleido — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 10:54:50 +0000

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel picnic and high tea The Mount Nelson Hotel was designed to emulate the finest Hotels in London. On the 6th of March 1899 nine years after the Land was purchased the Hotel opened its doors to rave reviews from the press and wealthy patrons from abroad. High Tea Take afternoon tea at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. Sit in the bright and enchanting lounge, and anticipate an indulgent feast. While you dine on sumptuous cakes, pastries, and sandwiches stacked in tiers. Live piano music sets the scene. Poolside picnic Treat your loved ones to a sumptuous gourmet picnic. The hotel is giving locals and visitors the opportunity to explore the surroundings while soaking up the scenery and sunlight next to the heated swimming pool. Your picnic comes hassle-free with a wicker picnic basket Gardens

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Bloemhof Restaurant

carynkaleido — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:34 +0000

The Bloemhof Manor House was built in 1899 by Phillipus Botha on the historic Bloemhof farm. In the early 20th century, the property passed to Frank Kuffner, a significant figure in the wine industry. His influence brought prosperity to Bloemhof, transforming it into an important location within the early Cape wine scene. Today Bloemhof Manor House is a guest house and restaurant. The beautifully preserved architecture and lush gardens provide a window into Victorian life, while the manor has been updated to offer modern comforts. Guests can relax in spacious rooms with en-suite bathrooms and enjoy the view of Table Mountain from the manor’s balconies. The Bloemhof Restaurant is popular among locals..The traditional setting, combined with the history of the manor, offers diners an experience that reflects the heritage of Bellville. 76 Bloemhof Street in Bellville,.

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Bonnievale stone church

carynkaleido — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:01:04 +0000

Bonnievale stone church is the only church in the world that was ever built at the request of a child! Mary was the third-born daughter of Christopher and Lilian Rigg. The couple’s first two daughters both died before their first birthdays. Mary Myrtle Rigg was born in 1903 and grew up a strongly religious child. As a child, she enjoyed playing in a lucerne field that was close to their family home. In 1911 at age 7 Mary contracted meningitis and before she died, while lying on her deathbed, she asked her father to build her a church. The lucerne field became a family burial site and in 1921 the Cornerstone of the small Gothic-style stone church was placed. Christopher Rigg quarried stone from a hill 100m away from the site to build the church, he laid a marble floor. The tiles were imported from Italy. Stained glass windows were brought from England. The stone and cement dome-shaped roof was covered with lead to prevent leaking. He brought the main door back with him from a trip to Zanzibar, and the side doors and furniture came from Knysna. There is no question about his sincerity and devotion to his daughter’s dying wish. The first Anglican service to be held in the building was in 1924. The Bonnievale municipality had the Bonnievale stone church restored in 1977 and is currently applying to have the building declared a national monument. Read more

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Bonteheuwel trig beacon

carynkaleido — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 13:12:17 +0000

Bonteheuwel trig beacon is a broken beacon on Bont Hill in Bonteheuwel. The Bont hill was a sand dune used for sand mining during the construction of the apartheid scheme of the Bonteheuwel housing project. It was also used in the construction of the concrete trig beacon. The first trigonometric beacons in South Africa were in Cape Town (See Maclears beacon) and they were based on star observations and precisely measured baselines. Between 1833 and 1870 Thomas Maclear and Sir David Gill were given the task of verifying the size and shape of the earth in the Southern Hemisphere. They were to provide geodetic control for topographic maps and navigation charts. The network was extended to eventually cover the whole country. Eventually, there were about 29000 highly visible trigonometric beacons on mountains, high buildings and water towers.

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Breakwater Gaol

carynkaleido — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:17:47 +0000

The Breakwater Prison, also known as the Breakwater Gaol, was constructed in 1860 to house British convicts employed on building the breakwater that enabled Cape Town’s harbour to be developed. A quarry below the prison, near the site of today’s Two Oceans Aquarium, supplied hard rock that was transported by hand-powered rail wagons up the hill and through a tunnel. Many inmates had been convicted of petty crimes, including escaping forced naval service in England, offences that carried sentences of hard labour. The building visible today is the Industrial Breakwater Prison, a national monument designed with four castellated turrets and an enclosed courtyard, based on the Millbank and Pentonville prisons in England. It functioned as a prison for only about ten years. In 1891, white prisoners were moved into this building, making it the first site in South Africa to racially segregate black and white convicts. Before segregation, a white convict was required to sleep between two black convicts, on the belief that language and cultural barriers would limit plotting and dissent. The prison gained a reputation as one of the most feared in the world, with stories claiming inmates from almost every known nationality were held there. After a strike in 1885, during which black and white convicts met together in the yard, authorities enforced stricter racial separation. The prison also included a punishment block with a human-powered treadmill used both as labour and punishment. Several notorious criminals passed through the prison. Percy Collingwood, a safe breaker who managed to open a prison safe with his bare hands. “Frenchie” Ferroli, another inmate, escaped by dressing in a warder’s uniform and calmly walking through the prison gates After its brief period as a prison, the building became a juvenile offenders’ institution, and from 1926 to 1989 it served as a hostel for black dock workers. The prison finally closed in 1923. The complex was repurposed rather than being demolished. In 1970, the buildings were declared a National Monument under the old National Monuments Council legislation. Since 1991, it has housed the Breakwater Lodge and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business within what is now the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Traces of its past remain, including graffiti carved into the stone walls by inmates and the nearby Gallows Hill area, which was once part of the prison complex, long before Robben Island was used as a prison. Gaol Portswood Road, V & A Waterfront,

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