Blog

31 Mar Durban’s Royal Hotel

Posted at 14:56h in Uncategorized

Opening in 1845, the Royal Hotel, this iconic hotel has stood the test of time. (For 175 years.) It is however the hotel's Grill Room, that stays imprinted in the mind. The room with all its Colonial trappings, retains it's charm. As always I am drawn...

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29 Mar Loskop (Estcourt area) – Moorleigh Churches

Posted at 12:20h in Uncategorized

Whilst the 'mother' Lutheran Church (Kerk) at Moorleigh is still in good condition, the nearby Gnadenkirche is in ruins. It makes for great photography but is a reminder of bygone days when the thriving local community, although much smaller, seemingly able to maintain its properties....

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27 Mar Umhlanga Ridgeside’s Glass Horizon

Posted at 16:01h in Uncategorized

Sunglasses will become essential on Umhlanga Ridge with all the glass cladding the new structures dominating the skyline. Perhaps some entrepreneurial sole could direct the reflecting rays onto solar panels? [caption id="attachment_115302" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Glass Arch[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115303" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A burst of light from the...

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21 Mar Durban Post Office – Criminal neglect

Posted at 14:48h in Uncategorized

[caption id="attachment_115003" align="aligncenter" width="216"] Durban Central Post Office being strangled.[/caption] If the neglected state of the Durban Central Post Office is a metaphor for South Africa, take a trip into the Durban CBD and see for yourself the state of this national Monument that is being...

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18 Mar Gen. Louis Botha’s bridge hand – 1918

Posted at 14:51h in Uncategorized

[caption id="attachment_114971" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Bridge hand played aboard ship 1917.[/caption] The above hand was played aboard SS Ivomaru on December 1918, bound from Cape Town to London. A call of 7 hearts was made, the players being Gen. Louis Botha, Lt Col. J Mulroney, Mr WE Barker...

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18 Mar Durban Law Courts history

Posted at 14:11h in Uncategorized

The present law Courts on Victoria Embankment has a rich history. The first Durban hospital was at Bayside and the Natal Government Hospital was on this site from 1861 to 1879, when a new Addington Hospital was built in 1879. It was immediately commandeered by...

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18 Mar Reichenau Trappist Mission – the lost activities

Posted at 12:01h in Uncategorized

A recent walk around this Mission truly brought home the industriousness of the Trappist Monks and their successors. Aside from the centerpiece, St Andrews Church are the large derelict remains of the extensive workshops and agricultural buildings. There is evidence of a large dairy, piggery...

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26 Feb Durban Addington Hospital Complex – Adornments

Posted at 15:33h in Uncategorized

These buildings in Princes Street form part of the greater Addington Hospital Complex which was built in 1932. For me these simple buildings are so significantly enhanced by simple architectural features and adornments. These simple but effective adornments are missing from modern buildings. [caption id="attachment_114661" align="aligncenter" width="300"]...

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18 Feb Durban’s Lion Match Factory

Posted at 18:19h in Uncategorized

It's refreshing to see a property developer upgrading an old heritage building. This was the case when JT Ross redeveloped this old factory which are now upmarket offices and have Jonsson's Clothing as a key tenant. The factory was built in 1925 for Hunt Leuchers...

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18 Feb Durban Glenwood – Artist, Dane Stops

Posted at 17:19h in Uncategorized

Artist Dane Stops, is a fine artist and also has artwork on the wall at the KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood. A lot of this work in graffiti form has little merit but Dane's work is superb and of really high standard....

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