Port Elizabeth of Yore: Harbour Operations before Jetties

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 Comments

Until the 1870s, Port Elizabeth harbour possessed no jetties. By implication, the passengers and cargo had to be transhipped onto tiny surf boats for onward transport to the landing beaches. People were carried ashore on the shoulders of the Mfengus much to the distress of the females. In spite of this clumsy and archaic method of operation, Port Elizabeth rapidly processed more exports than its sister port, Cape Town.

 This blog is a verbatim extract from the unpublished notes of Mr. C.G.H. Skead written in 1939.

Main picture: Surf boats in Algoa Bay in the 1860s

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: McWilliams Father & Son -Duo of Architects

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 4 Comments

Port Elizabeth seems to be blessed with famous McWilliams names. Apart from the McWilliams of Rink Street, there was the father and son duo who were both famous architects: William and Herbert McWilliams. 

Of the two, Herbert, the son, certainly led a full and varied life, worthy of a biography. 

Main picture: Sprogs on the banks of the Swartkops River in 1955 – Herbert McWilliams’ sprog is #15

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Campanile to Celebrate the Arrival of the Settlers

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Probably more criticism, chiefly adverse, has been levelled at this monument than any other in South Africa especially in the initial years. Much of the adverse comments have fortunately, long since abated as it is now considered to be an integral part of the city’s heritage and is totally synonymous with Port Elizabeth.

Main picture: The Campanile rises from behind the Customs House

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Donkin Row-Tiptoeing up the Hill

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 3 Comments

The houses in Donkin Street add to the charm of the area bracketed by the Hill Presbyterian church at the top and Nedbank building in Main Street and bounded by the Donkin Reserve in the east.  Possibly more important was the fact that the Donkin Stream from a perennial spring supplied the town with water

Main picture: Painting of Donkin Row, as it is called

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Lost Artefacts of Port Elizabeth: Swartkops Mineral Spa

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 9 Comments

Today taking a cure at a mineral spa is definitely out of vogue. However in the past, the belief in the curative properties of the various minerals was widely extolled. Even Erwin Rommel, at the height of WW2, spent time at a spa. Perhaps it was the relaxation that was the cure and not the minerals. Nevertheless, the supposed healing properties were invoked by all and sundry.  

Even Port Elizabethans adopted this cure, now a distant memory 

Main picture:  Swartkops Mineral Baths after the developments in 1936 

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Port Elizabeth’s Driftsands and Dune Fields: Nature’s Equilibrium Disturbed

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Interfering with Mother Nature might not produce a Newtonian response i.e. an action is followed by an equal and opposite reaction. Rather it generates sometimes arbitrary unintended consequences but responses nevertheless. In the case of Port Elizabeth, there has been interference with nature on a vast scale in the southeast area relating to the driftsands and the dune fields. 

The ultimate consequence of these ill-conceived projects to redirect nature will result in the denuding of all the main beaches in Port Elizabeth, stripping Port Elizabeth of a potential lucrative tourist asset. 

Main picture: Map showing the dune field systems in 1890. Summerstrand and Humewood were just one big sand dune

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Day the Sky Impoded during November 1867

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Port Elizabeth periodically experiences floods. Amongst the most devastating was the flood from Tuesday 19th November to Thursday 21st November 1867.  During 11 hours on the Wednesday and Thursday, 161.5 millimetres of rain fell bringing the total for the three days to 225.5 millimetres. While only two lives were lost, damage to roads and houses was estimated to be as much as £30,000. 

Perhaps its effect was exacerbated by the fact that the roads were not tarred and the flood waters gushed down the natural water courses, formally kloofs or streams, causing mayhem. But the most catastrophic effect was the silting up of the harbour. As a consequence, the recently completed breakwater had to be demolished.

Main picture: Rudolph Street, South End after the floods of November 1867

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