This is Govan Mbeki Avenue (named after the father of our current State President) which used to be called Main Street. In fact, long before that, it was divided into 3 sections and the bit between the Town Hall and the bottom of Russell Road was called Queen Street. From Russell Road to Albany Road … Continue reading City Centre
Tag: history
Monthly Theme Day: My local Corner Store
This little cafe, round the corner from our house, is one of that dying breed of old fashioned family stores, which sell everything. You can't imagine how it all fits into the small space, but no matter what obscure item you ask for (enamelled coffee cup, paraffin lamp, fishing tackle, you name it) they seem … Continue reading Monthly Theme Day: My local Corner Store
Monthly Theme Day, numbers
There are so many ways in which numbers are invaluable in a City. House numbers, telephone numbers, dates on buildings, and of course, they are particularly significant on headstones. So much of a City's history can be gleaned from the information on old gravestones, like this one in Russell Road. There were many Irish amongst … Continue reading Monthly Theme Day, numbers
Trinity House
We'll come back to 7 Castle Hill, but today we wanted to share pictures of another very old house in Central which has been maintained in its original state.This is Trinity House, and it is about 30 years newer than 7 Castle Hill, having been built around 1858. It was recently bought by Amanda and … Continue reading Trinity House
Courtyard 7 Castle Hill
A peek inside the delightful cobble stoned courtyard of the historic museum at 7 Castle Hill, the oldest home in PE still in existence. It has been beautifully preserved. It was built in the 1820s by Rev Francis McLelland, who was the Minister of the St Marys Church down the hill in market square. The … Continue reading Courtyard 7 Castle Hill
Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria still watches over parts of her former empire, with her "We are not amused look". This Sicilian marble statue of her, is situated at the entrance to the Main Library, on the North-Western corner of Market Square. It was erected and unveiled in 1903 two years after her death.
Lamp Posts #3
There is a row of 3 very lovely street lights in the narrow and historic Cora Terrace (which we featured a while ago.) At that time they were a pretty pale blue. They have recently been painted black. In that post I mentioned that the father of the girl after whom the terrace was named … Continue reading Lamp Posts #3
Prestor John
Across the road from the Feather Market Hall, between the City Hall and the Old Post Office in Port Elizabeth is an amazing statue dedicated to the seafarers who searched for Prester John between 1145 and 1645.During the 12th and 13th centuries, Prester John was believed to be the ruler of a vast and powerful … Continue reading Prestor John
St Georges Park #3
The Prince Alfred's Guard memorial was erected in 1907 to the memory of the Regiments dead in four wars. It was manufactured by MacFarlane's Saracen Foundry in Glasgow, Scotland and is located on top of a water tank that serves Central.
The Art Museum.
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, formerly the King George VI Art Gallery, was built on Municipal land in the 19650s. It was on a lease which has since lapsed, and control of the Gallery now falls under the Municipality.It was opened on 22 June 1956 and renamed in December 2002, and over the years, … Continue reading The Art Museum.
Firefly the Travel Guy 