Andringa streetMr Watse Sebrus Andringa was one of Stellenbosch’s early magistrates or landdroste (around the same time as Ryneveld). He became landdros in 1812, but sadly was in office only for two years before his death. For some time Andringa was secretary of the Stellenbosch estate managers  office (boedelkamer).Markotter...  Continue reading

This beautiful gable house, hidden at the back of Metanoia and Heemstede, was built by a famous Stellenbosser, and his neighbour was also a legend.Prof G.G. Cillié and mr. Paul Roos lived as neighbours in two identical houses in Van Riebeeck Street. Most of the houses in this street (today Heemstede's lawns) had similar layou...  Continue reading

This week I came across a beautiful historical picture of the Stellenbosch sawmills while paging through a Stellenbosch coffee table book from 1966 (the book cost R3,95):Over the past few years, there has been a lot of speculation about the sawmill on Polkadraai Road and what will happen to it. Earlier this year, Eikestadnuus...  Continue reading

Architect and artistI think Carl Otto Hager would've been suprised that the old Lutheran church on the corner of Dorp Street and Bird Street is an art gallery today. He was himself a portrait painter and photographer. The small church is 163 years old and is one of Stellenbosch's most beautiful heritage pieces.Carl was born i...  Continue reading

The story of this somewhat obscure little street is interesting because it tells us about the people who lived in Van Riebeeck Street before it was used for residences like Heemstede and Metanoia.Interestingly, this  story also slots into a larger narrative, that of the Second World War.Henry Wicht was originally a dairy farm...  Continue reading

Die Heemkring, 'n plaaslike belangegroep vir die dorp se erfenis, bied elke twee maande 'n aanbieding aan oor Stellenbosch se geskiedenis. Ek was gisteraand daar om na die argeoloog Hennie Vos te luister oor sy opgrawings by die Stellenbosch teologiese fakulteit.Te danke aan die wonderlike ooms en tannies was daar ook koek, t...  Continue reading