War Memorial cross

Its always an exciting moment when I discover something in Port Elizabeth that I didn't know about before. This was the case the other day when I noticed this foliage in the shape of a cross in St Georges Park just behind the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Gallery. The plaque reads: In memory of all those … Continue reading War Memorial cross →

The Prince of Wales Obelisk

The Obelisk standing outside the entrance to Bayworld has a very interesting history and is probably the only "second hand" royal memorial in the world. The obelisk was carved in France out of stone similar to granite for the London World Exhibition in 1862. It was then acquired by John Paterson, who started the Eastern Province Herald, … Continue reading The Prince of Wales Obelisk →

Market Square Time Capsule

Very few people know that there is a Time Capsule buried right in the centre of the Market Square. Tour guide Mike Callaghan sent me the following information which he obtained via Grizel Hart, Margaret Harridene and the Reference Section of the Public Library that was reported on in the Herald newspaper.On 30 September 1980 … Continue reading Market Square Time Capsule →

Rows and rows of books

I love reading and I pop into the Walmer Library every couple of weeks to see if there is anything interesting on the shelves. I've been wanting to take a photo like this for a while now, but keep on forgetting. So here it is, a photo between the shelves of the Walmer Library.

Library and flag

I had to go to a meeting in the city centre the other day and spotted the big South African flag flying on the Donkin Reserve in between the historic buildings next to Market Square. On the left the the historic Public Library with the statue of Queen Victoria in front of it while the building on … Continue reading Library and flag →

Diaz Cross at City Hall

Market Square is surrounded by a number of historic buildings and monuments. The Diaz Cross on Market Square is a replica of the one erected on St Croix Island in Algoa Bay by Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz in 1488. The City Hall on the right was built between 1858 and 1862 and still houses the office of the … Continue reading Diaz Cross at City Hall →

Piet Retief Monument

The Piet Retief Monument in Summerstrand stands on what used to be Voortrekker leader Piet Retief's farm Strandfontein. The monument was originally erected in Coega to the east of Port Elizabeth and unveiled in 1939 to commemorate the centenary of the Great Trek. In 1975 is was decided to move it to the location in Summerstrand because of … Continue reading Piet Retief Monument →

Lister Memorial

The area along Port Elizabeth's southern coastline which is reached via Marine Drive is where the Driftsands area can be found. In the late 1800's the movement of sand dunes towards the town was very worrying to the town council and plans were devised to stop the sand from "invading" and overrunning Port Elizabeth. One of … Continue reading Lister Memorial →

Looking up at Queen Vic

Looking up at the statue of Queen Victoria standing in front of the historic Public Library in the Port Elizabeth city centre. The statue was unveiled in 1903, one year after the library's opening.Visit Skywatch for more pictures from around the world featuring the sky

Library queen

Port Elizabeth has so many interesting and facinating monuments and statues, but Queen Victoria with the old Public Library behind it still stays one of my favorite scenes to photograph.