|
The
Clock Tower
Situated
near the site of the original Bertie's Landing Restaurant,
the Victorian Gothic-style Clock Tower has always been an
icon of the old docks and has become an important focal point
in the Waterfront's recent urban design. This was the original
Port Captain's Office completed in 1882. On the second floor
is a decorative mirror room, which enabled the Port Captain
to have a view of all activities in the harbour. On the bottom
floor is a tide-gouge mechanism used to check the level of
the tide. Restoration of the Clock Tower was completed towards
the end of 1997.
Time
Ball Tower
The
Time Ball (invented by Captain Robert Wauchope) is a signaling
device in which a ball is dropped at a given time in order
for sips' masters to determine the error and rate of their
chronometers whilst in harbour. The Time Ball Tower in the
Waterfront was built in 1894 and is situated next the Harbour
Engineer's former residence (Dock House). It remained in use
for 40 years after which new technology led to it lying idle
for 63 years before being restored and officially recommissioned
in November 1997.
The
Dragon Tree
The
Dragon Tree (dracaeno draco) planted next to the Time Ball
Tower is a species originally from the Canary Islands. Well
over 100 years old, this is one of the largest of its type
in Cape Town. Believed to have been planted by a sailor passing
through Cape Town, the sap ("dragons blood") of
these trees was once popular as a medicine to treat dysentery
and diarrhea.
Unfortunately,
the Dragon Tree was severely damaged in storms of 2001. The
leaves of the tree have all been cut off to allow the tree
to regenerate.
Robben Island Embarkation Building
At
the end of Quay 5 on Jetty 1 is the embarkation building for
prisoners sent to Robben Island. Although the purpose and
use of the island changed a number of times over the last
century or so, it more recently gained international notoriety
as a prison for contemporary political figures including South
Africa's first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela.
The Robben Island Exhibition and Information Centre situated
next door to the Clock Tower building, is a unique museum
depicting the history of Robben Island and the political struggle
to overthrow apartheid. Bookings for guided tours are essential,
and can be made at tel: +27 (0)21 419 1300.
Daily
ferry trips to Robben Island depart from the jetty near the
Robben Island Exhibition and Information Centre in the Clock
Tower Precinct and from the Robben Island Embarkation Building
on Jetty 1.. Guided tours and bus tours on the island include
a visit to the prison with viewing of the limestone quarry,
Garrison Church (1841), lighthouse (1863), Leper's Church
(1895), guesthouse (1895) and a Kramat, or Muslim shrine.
Seabirds, African (jackass) penguins, ostriches and bontebok
are some of the wildlife on the island. Tickets may be purchased
from the Robben Island Embarkation Building, tel: +27 (0)21
419 1300.
Seal
Landing
It
is unusual to get a close view of seals, as offshore islands
are their preferred breeding grounds. A colony of Cape fur
seals are however a familiar sight resting on the seal landing
in the Clock Tower Precinct next to the original Bertie's
Landing Restaurant and on old tyres lining the quaysides around
the Waterfront. They are an integral part of harbour life
and Capetonians are fortunate enough to have these seals living
in such close proximity.
Breakwater
Prison (Lodge)
The
original Breakwater Prison was constructed in 1860 to house
the convicts working on the breakwater. A dramatic reminder
of the punitive penal attitudes prevalent in the 1890's is
the remains of a treadmill visible alongside the former prison
building, now housing the University of Cape Town's Graduate
School of Business and the Breakwater Lodge.
South
African Maritime Museum
The
museum showcases the maritime history of
Table Bay and houses the largest collection of model ships
in South Africa. Floating exhibits in the Victoria and Alfred
Basins include the SAS Somerset - a retired Naval Defence
Boom Vessel and the Alwyn Vintcent - a coal-fired steam tug.
Both may be boarded for a nominal fee. Tel: +27 (0)21 419
2505.
Chavonnes
Battery
Of
particular significance to the new Clock Tower Precinct development,
is its historical base - the Clock Tower, itself a national
monument. Recently, preliminary excavation uncovered a portion
of the Chavonnes Battery, which is one of the oldest European
structures in South Africa, built in the early 1700's.
Investigations
conducted by the Archaeology Contracts Office at the Department
of Archaeology at the University of Cape Town have yielded
a full report on the history of the battery.
Built
in 1714-1725 by the Dutch East India Company, the Chavonnes
Battery was designed to further protect the Cape, together
with Fort Knokke and the Amsterdam Battery.
Eyewitness
accounts described the Chavonnes Battery as being the most
formidable of the Table Bay fortifications.
By
mid-19th century, the Chavonnes Battery had been put to a
number of uses. Besides serving a military role, it was used
as an isolation and convalescent wing of the old Somerset
Hospital. Crews and passengers of the old Somerset Hospital.
Crews and passengers of ships stricken with contagious illnesses
such as smallpox were confined to the battery until they were
considered fit. The Battery was decommissioned in 1861.
As
part of the new development, the Chavonnes Battery has been
retained and part of the ruins opened to the public for viewing
- and acts as a real feature of the Clock Tower Precinct.
|
CyberCapeTown.com