Bigg est and Best Prope rt y guid e in the Bolan d
SOLD Boland
26 FEBRUARIE
D i s t r i c t M a i l | E i k e s t a d n u u s | P a a r l P o s t
The Administration Block was built by Sir Herbert Baker and Francis Ma sey and completed in 1900.
The old Power Station at Paardevlei was completed in 1903.
ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE TO BE PRESERVED
Explore Paardevlei’s heritage sites Paardevlei, a mini city-in-themaking, located adjacent to the existing town of Somerset West, is – unknown to most locals – home to a large and fascinating collection of century-old heritage buildings with intrinsic cultural value.
Iconic architect Sir Herbert Baker designed many of the striking structures on the site in conjunction with his long-time collaborator, Francis Masey. British born-Baker is generally regarded as the country’s most famous colonial architect. He and Masey were is responsible for some of South Africa’s most significant architectural constructions between them, including the Union Buildings in Pretoria, various homes and buildings located at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur (once the official residence of the CapePrimeMinister),StGeorge’sCathedral and the Rhodes Memorial. They were also commissioned to design a number of administrative buildings and homes for the staff of a Paardevlei dynamite factory by the site’s then owner, Cecil John Rhodes. Many of the buildings located on Paardevlei Estate were designed in the same year as Baker worked on the
refurbishments of buildings at the Groote Schuur Estate, where Rhodes resided at the time, and included the The Woolsack and Welgelegen residences. In 1899, Paardevlei was a small, shallow, predominantly agricultural wetland when Rhodes purchased it for his the Beers Consolidated Mines (now known as AECI) and set about converting a portion of the property to a dynamite factory to meet the demands of the gold- and diamond-mining industries. In the ensuing years a number of staff homes and buildings were erected, in addition to a various other culturally significant structures. These have subsequently become an important cultural link to South African’s former urban and industrial landscape. Of particular significance is a collection of buildings, now known as Baker Square, constructed between 1899 and 1900. These include some of theearliestexamplesofthelegendary Baker and Masey structures found in the Western Cape. Visitors to Paardevlei will be enthralled by the old Administration Block with its central nibble gable and two distinctive “holbol” gables, (which resembles the entrance of
graveyards (one of Groote Schuur Hospiwhich contains the retal), the Main Office mains of victims of the Block, as well as the cen1914 flu epidemic.) In toterpiece building of the tal, there are well over square – a standard Htwenty heritage buildpattern double-storey ings,structuresandsites structure with a central earmarked for preservacupola and distinctive tion at Paardevlei. weathervane, which was Paardevlei Properinitially used as a resities, which manages the dence for single male facfull730hectaresiteonbetory workers, and later half of AECI Limited, beconverted into the lievesthebestwayofprePaardevlei clubhouse. serving historical buildQuinan House (named ings is to use them, after the factory’s first manager) today houses The Manager’s House served as the De Beerse Drawing Of which is why many have been made available to the famed Cheetah Out- fice and was completed in February 1913. discerning business reach NGO and is perhaps the grandest, most elegant of the train used to transport dynamite off owners for rent. Others have been also been sold to Baker/Masey designs at Paardevlei site), the hostels of indentured Afriand well worth a visit. It was declared can labourers, the Foundry – a beauti- investors. Current tenants include a ful brick building with a pitched roof, number of professional businesses a national monument in 1981. In addition to the Baker/Masey also constructed in the early 1900s, and manufacturers, including but buildings, visitors will marvel at the the Power Station – widely regarded not limited to the above-mentioned eclectic collection of other heritage as a cultural treasure within the AE- entities. Paardevlei Properties has also crestructures and sites found at Paard- CI stable, the old Nitrocellulose ManufacturingPlant(whichtodayhouses ated a heritage brochure with deevlei. These include the nine staff homes Triggerfish Craft Brewery), the Ni- tailed information on each site and located in The Crescent, the Doctor’s troglycerine Factory (currently structure which will soon be freely House, which today houses the up- home to Flagstone Winery), the facto- available from their on site offices for market Mai day Spa, the Old Locomo- ry hospital and male nurses’ resi- those wishing to learn more about the tive Shed (which once housed the dence, as well as two fascinating specific background of each site.
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