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The Castle of Good Hope

Over the centuries six different flags have flown over The Castle yet in all that time not a single shot has ever been fired in anger at it or from it.
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Cape Town

Castle of Good Hope

Cape Town South Africa

Muizenberg

False Bay

The reason for a fort at the Cape of Good Hope

With the expansion of world trade by the European powers in the 1500s, trade routes were vital to economic power. The main trade route to the East used to be overland; but in 1453 Constantinople was captured by the Turks which effectively closed off this trade passage. Other routes east had to be found.

One of his first tasks was to build a fort as the interests of the Dutch East India Companies latest assets had to be protected at all costs.

History and facts of the Castle including 3D illustrations, time line, photos and information

The first fort built at the Cape of Good Hope

Two days after setting foot on the shores of Table Bay, Commander Van Riebeeck started work on his fort Fort de Goede Hoop which was situated on the shore edge (the present day Parade parking lot next to the Golden Acre building). His choice of design was the popular square with two-gun bastions at each corner. These bastions are the same shape as the ones seen on the Castle today.

The dominant seafaring nation in Europe at that time was Portugal. They needed to find a way to the East by sea. With many voyages down the west coast of Africa, gaining more distance every time, the Cape of Good Hope was finally rounded in 1488 by Bartholomeu Dias. In 1498, Vasco The new main entrance and da Gama finally broke the deadlock Bell Tower put in place by and made the voyage to the East Simon van der Stel and the and back, laden with spices. In 1503, visiting Commissioner Van Antonio de Saldanha put in at Table Goens in 1682-1684. This was Bay and climbed Table Mountain to to replace the original entrance get his bearings. On returning to his on the sea-facing curtain ship, he made one discovery that wall between Buuren and would change the face of South Africa Catzenellenbogen. for centuries to come. He discovered abundant fresh water below the mountain, a key requirement for a halfway station to break the long voyage to the East. During a later stop-over another Portuguese ship lost 80 men in a skirmish on the beach with the local inhabitants who apparently misunderstood an attempt to take some of their people in a rowing boat to visit the Portuguese ship as an attempted abduction. The combination of the Portuguese never putting roots down anywhere on the South African coast and their political alliance with Spain, made the Dutch and the English common enemies. This broke the back of the Portuguese as the dominant trading power. The English were the first to try and establish a settlement at the Cape, but with a halfhearted backing from their King, the

The Ravelin was added just after the new entrance and bell tower were moved to this position in 1697. The idea behind the ravelin was the concept of defence in depth. The entrance road kinks right which does not allow an enemy a direct shot at the entrance gate.

The four bastions of the older castle were named after the ships that brought them to the Cape: Oliphant, Rijger, Drommedaris and Walvisch. The outer walls were constructed using sods, clay, and brushwork. Timber and brick were used on interior structures. A moat surrounding the fort, which was fed by the Varsche River, was built. As a defensive structure it was very poor. The outer walls collapsed more then once under heavy rains. For several years it served its primary function as a provision station and, luckily, no major attack by the local Khoina or foreign power threatened its existence. An accurate model of this fort can be seen in the Military Museum at the present day Castle in Block E. At the same time as the fort was built and maintained, the Company Gardens were planted to fulfil the primary goal of the endeavour - to supply passing ships
The Sally Port The Cross-Wall D 7

Peak. The present day site of the Castle is The style of this new castle was 5 probably the best of a bad situation. This associated with the renowned French position is about 230 metres south east fortress engineer, Sebastien Vauban. of the old fort. The site is close enough Menno, Baron van Coehoorn, a Dutch to anchorage, within firing range of the artillerist and military engineer, was town and close enough to fresh water. also associated with the outcome of the The defensive system at the Cape was Castles design. slowly rectified over time by means of This design was based on the fact that many defensive structures placed around firepower due to technology had greatly Cape Town as seen on the map on the improved to a point where castles of old next page. were redundant. Their main feature was the introduction of tapering outer walls, extremely thick at the base, getting The building of the Castle thinner at the top. This revolutionary The main structure of the castle was design made the cannon balls ricochet started in 1665 and formally declared off the wall surface instead of a 90 complete in 1679, running through degree hit which would weaken the wall This corner of the inner court was first developed by Simon periods of intensity in building operation far faster. Breaching the wall by means van der Stel in about 1690 with a flower garden, exotic and and periods of rather slow activities. of concentrated fire and charges placed indigenous trees which surrounded a small circular pool. His son, These ebbs and flows were influenced in the weakened area by attacking Willem van der Stel, enlarged the pool to its present size. The pool by the states of alliances and treaties infantrymen became extremely hard was demolished in 1860 and restored in 1984. between nations in Europe. due to the thickness of the wall and the nature of the tapering design which did not collapse under its own weight. Most of the material needed for the Castle were found locally, this being the The other feature of their revolutionary design was the extensive defensive bulk of raw material of stone and mortar. Materials that could not be procurred positions beyond the main wall, based on the premise of defence in depth. at the Cape, were brought in from Europe. These were more specialised This system allowed defenders to enfilade or fire into the flanks of attackers. materials like the klompjes (little yellowy coloured bricks that you can see at The castle was designed in the shape of a pentagon with 5 bastions placed at its corners, each containing their own gunpowder magazines. Cannon positions atop these bastions would cover all fields of fire, even right up to the base of the curtain walls between bastions. Each bastion would be given a name that was one of the official titles of the Prince of Orange, these being Leerdam, Oranje, Buren, Katzenellenbogen and Nassau. The average length from bastion to bastion was 180 metres, with an average the main entrance gate). Wood was obtained locally at Hout Bay and overseas. After the location of the castle was settled upon, the area had to be cleaned of bush and then levelled. Hendrik Lacus did all the measurements and the taking of levels. Foundations were started with the concentration of work on the bastion that would be called Leerman as there primary objective. Foundations were 5m wide and a depth of 3.5m was required to reach bed

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Cape Point

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Bakery or Bakhuys Torture Chamber C

Oranje Bastion Dolphin Pool

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The name Kat balcony was incorrectly used; it seems to have stuck for this balcony or porch. It was referred to as the puije by those who built and used it. Anton Anreith and Louis Michel Thibault are attributed as the creators. Anton was an apprentice in the Rococo style which influenced his later Baroque style.
rock. While the digging was taking place, the foundation stone was being cut out of Signal Hill in large blocks; it was then broken up and transported by cart to the castle. Blue slate used for the walls and shells used in the process of making mortar (for making lime mixed with clay in a ratio of 1:1) were obtained from Robben Island.

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Nassau Bastion

8 5 B Governors quarters 6 Vertical Sun Dial (morning) Captains Tower 11 Flags of occupation*

VOC arms relief Provost Cells

Dark Hole Inner Court or Wapen Plaats

Secundes quarters

Vertical Sun Dial (afternoon)

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Mounts for Hotchkiss signalling guns 2 Catzenellenbogen Bastion E Outer Court or Bailey

Inner Archway

Kat Balcony Puije

Main Entrance & Bell Tower 10 A 9 1 Leerdam Bastion 3

The workforce needed to build the biggest building project of its time in Cape Town was first derived from the soldiers not on military duty. Slaves and a few Khoina where also roped into the project. As the urgency to finish the project escalated, incentives for the soldiers were put in place, free burghers brought in to help with the transportation of material and, at one stage, a proclamation that anyone regardless of rank had to carry baskets of soil when excavating the moat. On average 200 to 300 workers worked on the castle. The laying of the foundation stone by Commander Wagenaer on 2 January 1666 where Leerdam Bastion is situated, was a big occasion in the small settlement. It was undertaken with a feast of 2 oxen, 6 sheep and much fanfare. The castle was not built by laying the foundation for the whole castle and then building the bastions and certain walls up at the same time. Leerdam

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A visible section of Van Reedes Cross-Wall which runs from Catzenellenbogen Bastion to midway between the curtain wall of Leerman and Oranje. This wall was put in place to make an inner and outer court for a better defensive solution.
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venture ended in disaster. The Dutch increased their trade to the East more and more and were frequent visitors to the Cape. By 1602, they established the Dutch East India Company (VOC) a combination of a whole lot of t ra d e r s working together to share financial risk and resources. The VOC subsequently grew into a powerful international company which decided to established a formal refreshment station at the Cape in 1649, which, under the recommendation of Leendert Janszen. This was considered a good investment and Jan van Riebeeck was commissioned to establish such a post. On 6 April 1652, he anchored in Table Bay to establish a permanent settlement.

Military Museum Original Main Entrance

Outer entrance with Lion Posts De Waterblommetjie

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Buuren Bastion Flags of occupation*

Ravelin

with produce. By 1672, the little settlement had over 200 inhabitants.

Herb garden 4 English 18-pounder Ravelin

Jan van Riebeeck left for Batavia in 1662, leaving behind his main fort and a defensive line of smaller forts along the Liesbeeck River, including two small forts at the mouth of the Salt River. These defences along the Liesbeeck were for protection of live stock and grazing land as the local inhabitants had been banished from the area.

*The

The first castle to be built at the Cape of Good Hope

In 1664, war broke out between the British and the Netherlands which was a great threat to the VOC trade route. Instructions were sent by the VOC to Zacharias Wagenaer, who succeeded Van Riebeeck at the Cape, for a bigger and more comprehensive defence structure. Isbrand Goske and his master builder, Peter Dombaer, arrived in Cape Town to undertake the reconstruction. Goske brought with him plans of a more modern style castle and defence line that could withstand an attack from superior tactics and weaponry that had evolved during the Renaissance period in Europe which rendered the original forts design and structure obselete.

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A view from Leerman Bastion. You will note that this bastion and Oranje are higher then the bastions on the seaward side, allowing gunners from this bastion to shoot overhead towards the sea.

height of 10 metres. The first of Isbrand Goskes jobs was to find a suitable position for his new castle. His first thought was to build around the old fort and, once the castle was built, the old fort would be demolished. This thought was discarded as the duty of the functional fort would be affected too much. His other worry was the position of the old fort was too close to Signal Hill and an enemy that could gain this height could rain down hell on this position. If he placed the fort too far east it would be vulnerable to the heights of Devils

Moat

Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PAG) reported that Ms N Mabedla (ANC) commented that the sight of the old South African flag flying next to the new flag during the budget vote disturbed her, so the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans had all the old occupational flags (a long standing tradition) removed on the 31 October 2012.

was the first bastion to be worked on and when it was built up to a required height, its curtain walls were then worked on. Catzenellenbogen and its curtain walls were brought up to a required height. Oranje and its curtain wall that would connect to Nassau went the same route. Nassau and then Buuren, the last of the bastions, were built up to the required height. By 1674, Leerdam, Buuren and Catzenellenbogen had been completed. Insignia of the Dutch At this stage, the old fort was demolished East India Company except for the stone building or kat (VOC) which received its founding Charter which was still used for administration. In 1678, an entrance was constructed government in 1602. on the seaside of the castle called the Waterpoort, now the present-day entrance to the Military Museum. At this time, the main road to town ran in front of the Castle. A small V-shaped ravelin was placed here to protect the entrance; later, in 1860, this site was replaced with the Imhoff Battery

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from the Dutch

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The Outer Court viewed from the Main Entrance

Thoroughfare through the Cross-Wall to the Inner Court. The home of the Zulu king Cetshwayo, when he was imprisoned at the castle in 1879. The Cross-Wall, built from Robben Island slate, was ordered by Van Reede in 1685. It measures 12m in height, 3.5m wide and runs 116m, the full lengh of block F. Vertical Sun Dial which was used for the afternoon, was used for keeping the official time for the settlement. The William Fehr Collection of historical paintings and period furniture are housed in the Governors Quarters. Block B is the oldest section of the Castle. This section contains the Main Foyer, Ceremonial Offices, Kitchens and the Captains Tower.

which overlooked the sea. Leerdam and Oranje, which are on the land side of the Castle, were built higher then their counterparts so as to allow them the ability to fire over them when protecting the seaward approach. Single and double-story buildings were erected along the sides of the inner certain walls which would house all the needs of the Castle. In 1679, the Castle was declared finished and the bastions were named. Sadly, the man who had watched over the later part of this project, Governor Johan Bax van Herenthals, died in 1678 never to occupy his castle Commander Simon van der Stel took up his position in 1680 and housed himself in the quarters between Leerdam and Oranje. His first contribution to architectural change was the repositioning of the main gate to between Leerdam and Buuren as he found the old entrance was not functioning well being so close to the sea - at times, in big storms, waves would flood the courtyard. His new gate, completed in 1684, is one of the highlights of the Castle. It comprised an octagonal bell tower made from klompjes (small bricks used as ballast in VOC ships) with a bell which has the inscription in Latin with the blessing of the Lord of earth exalted on high Claudius Fremy made me in Amsterdam in the year 1697. The gate is made of stone and the pediment has a lion and crown. The lion is holding 7 arrows symbolising the seven provinces of the United Netherlands. Under this, a row of coat of arms of the VOC chambers, from left to right: Horn, Delft, Amsterdam, Middelburg, Rotterdam and Enkhuizen. These are flanked by the VOC monograms.

Fortifications of Cape Town in 1815

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 The Castle Imhoff Battery Elizabeth Battery Helena Battery Charlotte Battery Tulbagh Battery Fort Knokke Intermediaire Battery Nieuwe Battery, later Craigs Tower Hollands Redoubt Centre Redoubt Burgher Redoubt Coehoorn Battery (planned) Gordan Battery (planned) Cradock Battery York (later Queens) Blockhouse York Redoubt Prince of Wales Blockhouse Kings Blockhouse Rogge Bay Battery Amsterdam Battery Chavonnes Battery Fort Wynyard Groote Mouille Battery Three Anchor Bay Battery Kloof Nek Battery Camps Bay Battery Camps Bay Battery

Redrawn from The Castle of Good Hope from 1666 by B. Johnson Backer
Camps Bay

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Table Mountain

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Lions Head

combined to reflect its entire history. The big jobs undertaken were the redigging of the moat and connecting it to its old water source, and rebuilding the Bakery and Dolphin pool. All the upper walkways had to be dug up, waterproofed and replaced with original blue slate. Major work was done on the clock tower and the remodelling of the inner gable with the addition of the two flanking figurines lost over time. A great deal of the restoration was helped by a lady who had died many years previously by the name of Lady Anne Barnard who arrived in 1797 and became the hostess at the Castle. Her observations, written and illustrated, were indispensable to the restorers. Many hidden rooms were discovered and hidden frescos brought back to light during the restoration which lasted till 1993.

For More Information

Pricing: Adults: R 28,00 Pensioners (SA card holders only): R 15,00 Children/Students(5-16yrs): R 12,00 Booked School Groups: R 5,00 (Please check www.castleofgoodhope.co.za for prices) Gates open: 09h00 daily (close at 16h00) Key Ceremony: Monday-Saturday (10h00,12h00) Firing of Signal Cannon: Monday-Friday (10h00 & 12h00), Horse & Carriage Rides: Bookings at info@horsetrailsafaris.co.za De Goewerneur Restaurant: theuns@capetowncastle.co.za The Castle of Good Hope is closed to the public on Christmas Day (25 Dec) and New Years Day (01 Jan). More information: www.castleofgoodhope.co.za Contact Details: Tel:+27 21 787 1260 Tour Bookings:+27 21 787 1249 Fax:+27 21 787 1089 E-Mail:casteel@mweb.co.za Web: www.castleofgoodhope.co.za www.tourismcapetown.co.za Sources: The Castle of Good Hope from 1666 by B. Johnson Barker I Heard the Old Men Say by Lawrence G Green In the Footsteps of Lady Anne Barnard by Jose Burman Cape Town on Foot by Ursula Stevens www.castleofgoodhope.co.za Richard Smith 1st edition 2012
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F E

Devils Peak

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Stairs to Buuren Bastion.

Waterpoort entrance to the Military Museum and Curio Shop. This is the original entrance to the Castle before it was moved to its present day position in 1684.

The Secundes House built in 1695, housed the 2nd in command to the castle. The residence contained a kitchen, living and dining floor and sleeping quarters at the top. The entrance to the Good Hope Gallery is found here.

Inner Archway which leads to the inner court. Within the Archway, you will find wooden block paving to reduce noise and help in muddy conditions. The castle well is found here as well as a First World War memorial dedicated to South African soldiers.

The Kat Balcony was originally built in 1695 and upgraded by the VOC to its magnificent form we see today in 1786. All important proclamations were made from here.

Governors Quarters contained the grand hall where the Council of Policy used to meet. Today it contains the Fehr art collection, the Peacock Roomand Banqueting Hall.

Vertical Sun Dial which was used for the morning.

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Cape Town

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French Lines

Thoroughfare through to the Dolphin Pool and Inner Court.

Table Bay

12 2 20 Gallows Hill aL 4 Se 5 21 6 11 Reclaimed Land 10 22 23 7 8 Table Bay Harbour. 1997 9

s ine 3

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Three Anchor Bay

The Castle - a home to many

The Castle was a melting pot of people from all over the world - soldiers, slaves, civilians, European, Asian and African. So many have left their mark, others passed through without being noticed. There were a few willing and some not so willing who make up the soul and stories that give life to this stone fort. Simon Van der Stel, the Commander of the Cape from 1680, established the beautiful town of Stellenbosch and, after leaving the Castle, he established Groot Constantia - one of the best wine estates in the world.

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The Outer Court viewed from the Inner Archway towards the entrance Gate
The Inner Gable contains an allegorical trophy of arms of which the original, which was carved in teak, can be found in the grain cellar (block F). The two figures flanking the gable were reconstructed from Lady Anne Barnards paintings. A B Block A contained the Main Guardroom, Clothing Store and Salt Store. Today you will find the De Goewerneur restaurant. E

A ravelin was constructed as an outer entrance in front of the new gate. The design of this ravelin forces the road into the castle at a right angle. This right angle approach to the main gate means that an attacking force could not shoot directly at the gate when attacking. Commissioner Van Reede, on visiting the Cape in 1685, recommended the need for a cross-wall to be built which would divide the strike area of enemy missiles, if the castle ever came under attack. Buildings went up on either side of the wall. On the side of the outer Bailey, the new administration centre was placed. The entrance to this building was through the beautiful de kat balcony. The right side of Block F became the centre of social life and hospitality for the whos who of the settlement and important visitors to the Cape. On the left side of the inner archway were the quarters of the deputy Governor or Secunde. On the inner bailey side of the cross-wall, Van der Stel built a cellar for storing grain. The garrison commander had his quarters in block B under the Captains Tower which was used by sentries on duty. In 1705, the son of Van der Stel built the bakery which created a secluded area which became the site for his beautiful pool known as the Dolphin Pool (this was an enlargement of his fathers 1690 circular pool). This area fell into disrepair during the British occupation and the pool was filled in in the 1860s. Only in 1987 was it restored to its former glory. From 1672, outer defences and forts were planned and built around the Cape Peninsula to complete the defensive system which became known as the 7 Gibraltar of the Indies. By 1795, there where 33 forts. In 1795, the Dutch lost the war of Muizenberg to the British and signed a treaty at Rustenburg in present day Rondebosch. The Castle was taken over by the British forces without a shot being fired. On seeing the weakness of the Dutch defensive system, more forts were added - the most significant being the Kings Blockhouse on the edge of Mowbray Ridge on Devils Peak. In 1803, the British left according to the terms of the peace of Amiensand the new Netherlands, known as the The Torture Chamber with a Batavian Republic, took possession of short passage leading into the Dark Hole. The Dark Holes the castle.

which was used up to the end of the Second World War. The sun was setting on the Castle by 1811 as a defensive structure, due to advancements in military technology and the final blow was the relocation of Government to the Slave Lodge in Adderley Street.

Attacks on the Castle and its near demise

Up to 1850, no shot in anger was fired from or towards the Castle. The danger to the Castle was from within. The British War Department, who were in control of the Castle, tried to sell the Castle to the colonial government. On refusing, there was serious talk of demolishing the Castle and using the ground for the ever-growing town. More pressing politics of the day put these thoughts on the backburner. The second shot fired was in 1886 by the Cape Prime Minister, Sir Gordon Sprigg, who recommended the levelling of the castle and replacing it with new modern barracks. This notion was fought off by the Afrikaner Bond party. The final assault was made by Cecil Rhodes who wanted part of the Castle demolished to make way for railway lines. His argument was that only a small part of the castle would be sacrificed. A certain Mrs Marie Koopmans de Wet rebuff to Rhodes was Tell Mr Rhodes that his nose is only a little point on his face, but let him cut it off and then look in the glass. The Castle was saved but the Imhoff Battery was lost to a new road.

Another outstanding life was that of Lady Anne Barnard who arrived at the Castle from England in 1797. She was asked to take on the role as the Capes first lady, her glamorous and elegant parties and entertainment became the centre of life in this small settlement. She made the Dutch and Afrikaners very welcome under a foreign power. She entertained Xhosa leaders, explored far and wide, but what she is most known for is her recording of daily life, which she meticulously illustrated, painted and wrote down. Her observations were used for the renovations of the Castle in the 80s. The Castle Guards uniforms we see today are based on her paintings of a Coloured soldier in 1800. An unwilling guest on his part was that of Cetshwayo, King of the Zulus. After a great victory at Isandlwana in 1879 and then a defeat at his home at Ulundi, he was exiled to the Castle with his wives. His prison was the area used by the Military Museum today. The usual place for prisoners was the Provost cells in the Catzenellenbogen Bation. Some interesting graffiti and drawings can be seen on the doors of these cells. Willing or unwilling ghosts have lived at the Castle for a long time. The bell tower has its stories. A happy ghost of Lady Anne Barnard and her parties is seen and heard and then suddenly stops in silence. A vanishing 2m tall figure steps off the rampart and then disappears. There is the ghost of Governor Noodt, who walks the Castle corridors at night - a cruel man who sentenced a man to death in 1729. Upon his death, he cursed Noodt to die and that same day in his chair, he relaxed, fell asleep and never woke up. One of the most loved characters who made the Castle his home was a shipwrecked poodle named Schiffer who was adopted by the soldiers. What made him so loved for over 20 years, was he saved many soldiers from being punished for sleeping on guard duty. He made it his duty to walk 20 to 25 paces in front of the night patrol; if he came across a sentry that he thought was asleep, a bark and a jump would put them back on their feet. What is remarkable about Schiffer is for the last 2 to 3 years of his life he did this duty completely blind.

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Block A contained the Wheat Store, powder magazine under Leerdam Bastion and barracks for artillerists. Today you will find an Information Centre.

Main entrance.

The cast iron columns along the full length of Block A used to be wood and now are painted to resemble marble.

Stairs to Buuren Bastion. Powder Magazine under Buuren Bastion.

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The Inner Court viewed from the Inner Archway

Block D contained the Oil Cellar, Iron Store, Merchandise Store, Block C contained the Medicine Store, Clerks Lodging, Apothecary, Sally Port, Dispensers Store and Carpenters Store. Laboratory, Bombardiers Room, New Blacksmiths shop, New Wainwrights shop and the New Coopers Shop. The Dolphin Pool was restored back to its former glory after being uncovered in 1981.

D C B

New life for the Castle

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The Sally Port is a small opening to the outside of the Castle where troops could sally forth or flee from the castle.

Stairs to Nassau Bastion.

Dark Hole or Donker Gat is a dungeon that was used to store ammunition and gunpowder, but due to dampness it was used as a coal storage room.

The Torture Chamber was a place for confessions as required under Dutch law. The inverted horse-shoe on the door suggests ones luck had run out.

Bakhuys or bakery which was rebuilt on its original foundations in 1987-89.

The Inner Court viewed towards the Inner Archway

The Inner Archway. Old canons had been placed at the edges to protect the walls from damage from carts. The Cross-Wall with a secondary thoroughfare between the inner and outer courts.

F D

Bakhuys or bakery also contained the Coal Cellar in 1710.

This was the place for the Textile Store and Lime Cellar.

The reddish shutters and doors found at this location for the grain store were to indicate and remind workers and soldiers the need for caution for fire, so no smoking was permitted in this area.

Beams and Hocks where used for getting material and supplies to the upper floors.

In 1806, due to European politics, the peach pips embedded in clay. British returned and fought the Battle Gunpowder was stored here of Blowberg. The Castle was occupied but due to dampness, coal again by the British. The most significant took its place. structural addition to the Castle made by the British was the heightening of all the walls with reddish brickwork in 1830. The British also white washed the Castle interior. During restoration of the Castle in the 70s and 80s, the colour has returned to the yellow you see today as this colour stops the glare of the sun and reduces heat. More modern forts were added, such as Fort Wynyard near the V&A Waterfront

floor was once made out of

Years of military use and neglect saw the reason for a grand restoration project on the castle as it had become an important tourist attraction. Plans were drawn up in 1975 and after 30 years and R32 million later ,the Castle was restored, not to its former glory, but to reflect the many time periods it had gone through. The porch was restored to its most elegant time of 1780s, the military Museum to the 1870s and this was applied also to the uniform of the guards you see today at the Castle. The best and most interesting items from all the time periods were

A small alleyway found behind the bakery in the inner bailey, contains the Bombardiers Room at its entrance, then the New Blacksmiths Shop, the New Wainwrights Shop and then the New Coopers Shop.

In 1910, the Union of South Africa was established. The Union Defence Force was born in 1912 and the Castle became the headquarters for No 1 Military District out of 15 districts that made up the UDF. In 1922, the Castle was finally transferred to the new South African government. During World War II, the Castle was used extensively by many units of the Defence Force from local guard units to highly secret installations such as the filter room manned mainly by woman and Special Signals Services. It was also the home of the Combined Operational Room.

View of the Inner Gable, showing the replaced wooden pillars with iron pillars painted to look like marble. The re-modelled sculptured figures can be seen on either side of the gable.
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Castle Ceremony
The key ceremony plays out daily in the morning and at noon. The morning ceremony, which happens at 10am for the convenience of visitors, entails the gate key being fetched under escort at the Governors quarters. This is taken to the main gate; the wicket gate is opened and, if all is well, the bell is rung, the main gate is opened and the sentries take up their positions. The key is returned to the Governors quarters.

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Restoration of the Castle

The most common cannon at the Castle was known as a gun. They are smoothbore muzzleloaders. Note the red brick work added during the British occupation.

The noon ceremony is similiar in reverse but this time the bell tower rings out 12 times and a little bronze cannon is fired in the outer Bailey.

The Lodging for the Captain. The Morning vertical sundial is seen on the wall. The Captains Tower was used as a lookout. It is the only one remaining from several built.

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Time Line
1498 Vasco da Gama sailed around the Cape to the East and back. 1503 Antonio de Saldanha put in at Table Bay and climbed Table Mountain. 1615 the English East India Company establish a settlement at the Cape which turns to failure. 6 April 1652 Jan van Riebeeck sets up the first permanent settlement at the Cape under the VOC and Dutch jurisdiction. He builds his fort, Fort de Goede Hoop. 1665 under the guidance of Isbrand Goske, a new castle is built and formally declared complete in 1679, 1682 The entrance to the castle is moved to its present position under Commander Simon van der Stel. 1685 Commissioner Van Reede, on visiting the Cape recommended the, need for a Cross-Wall to be built. 1795 the first British occupation. The Dutch lost the Battle of Muizenberg and relinquished control of the castle. 1803 the British leave the Cape, returning the Castle to the Batavian Republic. 1806 second British occupation. The Battle of Blowberg is fought. The Castle is once again in British hands. 1922 the Castle was transferred to the new South African government. 1936 the Castle is declared a National Monument. 1975 the Castle undergoes extensive renovations until 1993. 1994 The New South Africa

Other historical events in that year

Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad. Leonardo da Vinci starts work on the Mona Lisa. Shogun Tokugawa take Osaka Castle in Japan, beginning 250 years of peace. First Anglo-Dutch War: The opening battle is fought off Dover, between Lt.-Admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromps 42 Dutch ships and 21 English ships divided into 2 squadrons, one commanded by Robert Blake and the other by Nehemiah Bourne. Margaret Porteous is the first person who was recorded to die of the plague in the Great Plague of London. Two-thirds of Londoners leave the city, but over 68,000 die that year. At the mouth of the Mississippi River, Louisiana, Robert de La Salle buries an engraved plate and a cross, claiming the territory as La Louisiane for France. Louis XIV issues the Edict of Fontainebleau and declares Protestantism illegal, thereby depriving Huguenots of civil rights. Some Huguenots later move to the Cape. The French occupy Utrecht in the Netherlands, revolution breaks out in Amsterdam and the Batavian Republic is proclaimed. Bonaparte begins making preparations to invade England. Francis II, the last Holy Roman Emperor, abdicates, thus ending the Holy Roman Empire after about a 1000 years. The (BBC) British Broadcasting Company is formed. King George V of the United Kingdom dies. Bill Gates founds Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

www.wikipedia.org

Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africas first black president.

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To advertise here contact Hayley Burger: 021 487 1200 gateway@redcarpets.co.za
To advertise contact Hayley Burger: 021 487 1200 gateway@redcarpets.co.za