Restoring Cape Vernacular Architecture – The Main house

With the building structures rescued by the initial renovations we started researching. The history   of the buildings were not documented and the endless days spent in archives, the deeds and surveys and mapping offices, started.

The history of the irrigation canal and of Christopher Rigg’s plan for the valley were well documented but the earlier history of the area was only captured in geographical names. Farm names like Boesmanspad, Boesmansdrift and Boesmansrivier, were a reminder of the earlier inhabitants of this valley and the path they followed from the Langeberg mountains through the Breede river towards the Riviersonderend mountains where, as legend would have it, they went to collect the tin required for their arrow points. Olifantskrans, Wolwekloof en Wildepaardekloof were a reminder of the abundant wildlife that roamed the valley.

We were very keen to have a pure restoration of the original building and were planning to remove the sixties addition completely. When Keith went to have the plans approved by the municipality, he was advised to apply for a demolition permit for all structures instead of a building permit. An added motivation was that he would save his money by applying for the demolition permit which was cheaper than having plans passed.

Opening the original door and window on the original front

Sash windows and stable door restored

We soon learned that the town would have preferred for the building to be removed completely as it was seen as a neglected eyesore.  With very few historical buildings left in the town and surrounding areas we had to explore the Swellendam building style because the property fell within the jurisdiction of the Swellendam cornetecy.

We discovered an original T-shape vernacular house built circa 1824 on the farm Bosjemansdrift that was part of the original farm. We were told that it was built by Mr Beukman the “veewagter” of a Mr Morkel from Stellenbosch, the then owner of the farm.

When we overlaid the original diagram of the quitrent grant on a Google aerial photo we discovered that the complex of buildings in the centre of the diagram, dated 1843, corresponded with the position of our buildings.

Restoring the gable on the original front of the house

The original front restored

Over a period of time we collected sash windows and doors from the area that was for sale to eventually install them in the building. We were informed by old photographs we found on the loft that the house used to have sash windows and collected ones of corresponding dimensions. We wanted the restoration to be authentic.

Replacing the 60's steel frame windows with sash windows

Adding the pediment and ropemolding

When we started the restoration on the main house and removed the steel frame windows we discovered the remnants of a casement window frame and yellow wood lintel. We then realised that the house was even older than we had originally thought.  We realised that the restoration on which we had embarked was in fact to the second phase appearance in the history of the building. It was evident that to restore it to the first phase appearance would create a very interesting museum but not a home suitable for contemporary living while the added financial burden to achieve that would have been prohibitive.

Making the new "soldertrap"

With the discovery of the older history we realised that the building is too important as a record of its period to change any of the interior core of it. We decided to retain the sixties addition for the incorporation of the bathrooms and laundry and other appliances and to leave the core as authentic as possible.

Restoring the gable on the "new front" and preparing for thatching

Roofing specialist consultant, Len Raymond applied methodology and a structural design that would have been used to construct the original thatched roof so as to ensure the correct period appearance of the building.

The restored facade today

The restored original front today

We published the detailed history of the house and its restoration to try and secure the future of the building and its record for future generations. We believe education is important for people to make informed decisions.

The house from the rosarium today

The house from the parking terrace

We realise we are only caretakers of a cultural landscape and enjoy living in this vernacular house and garden as holistically as possible.

The house in 1991

The same view today

More:
Restoring Cape Vernacular Architecture – The Cottage

Rescuing Beauty 1 – The Property