The rating of the state of the economy is subjective. It is a function of the observer’s personal status and wealth at that moment in time. Even if poverty is visibly evident, many wealthy people cannot internalise or comprehend what impact the state of the economy has on impoverished people. This situation can be likened to the current divide in South Africa.

In this blog, I will utilise a letter written in 1884 by hides and skin merchant, Peter Titheranton who bemoans the ostentatious displays of wealth, to underscore my contention. Titheranton’s views can be juxtaposed with what Harradine emphatically states in her singular book, The Social Chronicle in which she states that ‘this was a period of drought and deep economic recession causing great hardship from retrench­ments, insolvencies and general unemployment’. This will provided balance in the debate but will not justify the wealth and societal imbalances.

Main picture: Sketch of Wesleyan Methodist Church in Russell Road. Commenced erection in 1870, opened in 1872 and closed on 7 Dec 1969 to be demolished in order to widen Russell Road

The most extensive and productive farm in the Port Elizabeth area over the first two decades of the nineteenth century was that of Frederick’s  Korsten’s Cradock Place. It covered the area from today’s Korsten, taking in swathes of today’s Algoa Park and swept down to the mouth of the Papenkuils River. Like most farms, it also experienced the twin depredations of vagrancy and trespassing.

In early 1833, probably after a spate of incidents, Korsten decided to take action.

Main picture: View of Cradock Place by Walford Arbouin Harries in 1860

The edition of the newspaper Graham’s Town Journal dated 7 February 1839 carried the following advert notifying the public of the sale of this historic building being the first building constructed in Port Elizabeth after the arrival of the first settler ship, the Chapman.  

Main picture: Scorey’s Hotel with its gardens below it

Of all the recreational facilities that Port Elizabeth required at the end of the 19^th century, a state-of-the-art seawater swimming pool located in the harbour was not on that list. It should not have been amongst the highest ranking priorities but yet clearly in the rankings of the Port Elizabeth Municipality this was the one that they, in their wisdom, selected.

This is a detailed description of this facility taken from the 1899 issue of The Visitors’ Guide

Main picture: April 1901 – the swimming pool in the harbour