Cape Town, before the Anglo – Boer War (1899 – 1902) was essentially a sleepy place. The discovery of gold and diamonds in Kimberley and the Witwatersrand in the 1870’s and 1880’s had shifted the attention away from the city, although the port still served the interior of the Cape. This was to change dramatically when the war broke out and the port was filled to bursting point.
These images, mainly from before 1900, are from my own collection. They show Cape Town as it then was. I hope you enjoy them. Martin
This shows Cape Town harbour in 1879, with the skeleton of a boat in the foreground.
Here is one from the deck of a ship. The warehouses and the horses and carts are clearly visible.
This image is lovely – the ‘penny ferry’ used to cross the mouth of the harbour when I was a child, with a man rowing across.
Adderley Street – once the grandest street in Africa – yet here unpaved and with an ox cart lumbering up it! I think the Standard Bank is on the left.
The city as seen from Signal Hill
And another view from Signal Hill, looking towards Lions Head and Table Mountain
Here is a rarity! The vineyards of Kloof Nek – I wonder what the wine was like?
And it was not all work – here is an early view of a day at the races!
These are wonderful images, Martin. Thanks for posting them. Where did you find them? I can think that many people writing books of the period would itch to use them ….
I have been buying these photographs on auctions over many years. If you know people who would like to use them I would be happy to share them. I have many more.
Martin
Martin,
I have quite an extensive collection of historical images of South Africa in general and Cape Town in particular, arranged in albums on my Flickr site, which can be viewed here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hilton-t/albums
Would you permit me uploading some of your Cape Town images onto the site?
Naturally, you will be credited as the source. I can also include a link to your blog if you wish.
Regards,
Hilton Teper
St. Albans,
Herts.
Fantastic images Martin. Thank you so much for sharing them. Spectacular! It made my day.