Blouberg’s ‘neglected’ historical house faces uncertain future
THE fate of one of Blouberg’s oldest buildings hangs in the balance. It’s a tiny house called Highclere, built on the shore from shells and stones foraged from the beach in the 1870s by Sir Langham Dale, a prominent official in the Cape Education Department in the 19th century.
Now the authorities have given permission for the building to be demolished, and a parking lot or block of flats may be built in its place.
But the little house has a few more weeks in the sun. A few Blouberg residents have appealed against the demolition permit, and until the outcome of the appeal, the demolition order is on hold.
Mari-lou Roux, executive officer of the Habitat Council, described the current state of Highclere as a “great shame” and said the building had been allowed to fall into disrepair through neglect.
“There are only four old houses like this in Blouberg from the mid 1800s, and it has added importance because of who Sir Langham Dale was. He was a prominent man at the time. It has been neglected and they’ve allowed the windows and doors to be broken and removed. It’s disgraceful,” Roux said.
The land on which the little house stands in Rancke Road, which includes the Blue Peter Hotel, was bought by BPH Properties (Pty) Ltd in 1991 for R475 000. The company made two applications in 2004 to Heritage Western Cape to have Highclere demolished. The applications were refused by the organisation’s Built Environments and Landscapes Committee.
The company appealed in 2005, but lost the appeal.
In 2006, Heritage Western Cape resolved that the little house be declared a Provincial Heritage Site, but this process was not carried through and it was never awarded the status.
In July last year, BHP directors MLP Rattray, NM Rattray, DN Evans and AM Morphet resolved to apply again to have the old house demolished, and assigned Christopher Niland to do so. This time, demolition per- mission was granted.
But Joe Roux, chairman of the body corporate of the Sand and See block of flats near the old house, has appealed.
He said the owners had been aware of their obligation to maintain the heritage value of the building, “but chose to do nothing and now apply for demolishing order to implement other plans… This is scandalous and should not be allowed”.
Tamar Grover, a senior officer at Heritage Western Cape, said the appeal would be heard on March 28. Until then the demolition order was suspended.
The Cape Times asked Christopher Niland for comment, but he declined.