26/08/2019
Bo-Kaap Exploration
Two 18th century maps, the first from 1760 by Carel David Wentzel (c.1727-1776), and the next by C.F. Brink (1767), show us what a difference seven years can make in the history of the Bo-Kaap, Cape Town.
In 1760 we see the original 1707 Schotsche Kloof farm (Diagram 1, arrowed), including an L-shaped house on the edge of the property. By 1767 (Diagram 2, arrowed), it looks like a new settlement has been established on Signal Hill, up Wale Street extension and along (what would become) Buitengraght. The traditional history is that this area would be developed as small "huurhusjies" by Schotsche Kloof's owner, Jan de Waal, who lived in the large homestead, now seen (much altered) at 79 (blue house here) and 81 Dorp Street (Hislop, undated). These small, 18th century single-storey, flat-roofed lower-income homes, dubbed "Waalendorp" or "Wallendorp" would become the kernel for the later development of the largely Muslim community of Bo-Kaap. By 1778, the Panorama of Cape (attributed to Robert Jacob Gordon, seen in detail here) gives us a more detailed depiction of this area, and the Schotschekloof estate behind).
I explored this area recently with local community guides as part of CTGA tourist guide education, and am only just beginning to discover and learn about the rich cultural and architectural history of this fascinating area, currently faced with the threat of gentrification and over-tourism.
