Heritage Survey: Stellenbosch Rural Areas

Transcription

1 Heritage Survey: Stellenbosch Rural Areas by and Stewart Harris - June 2004 Sub Area Name Catalogue Number Jonkershoek Property Name Konstanz, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch District Farm Number 334/8 Heritage Resource Name Konstanz farm Composites mid-slopes upper slopes Alternative Names Herstein Linkages Klein Gustrouw Historical Property Type of Resource farm Photo Date 1980 Orthophoto with added cadastrals Photo Date 1986 Neil Sutherland 1986 Neil Sutherland. Konstanz is the ridge with a piece of farmland on the mid-slopes, surrounded by forests, in the centre of the picture. 17 October 2006 Page 1 of 15

2 Photo Date 1950s Studio Lockley 1950 Lockley. Kontanz is the ridge with a piece of farmland on the mid-slopes, in the centre of the picture. Photo Date CAM map: Red blocks 17th century grants, yellow lines early 19th c, pink dots roads. Grey/black rivers. It is the ridge with a large F. Photo Date aerial photo with added (current) cadastrals Description Visual Description A long, narrow, wedge-shaped property on a ridge on the southfacing slopes of the Jonkershoekberg; bounded by Oude Nektar in the west and and Bergsig and Le Cilliers in the east. This ridge morphologically separates the Klein Gustrouw estate (the lower valley) from Old Nectar and Jonkershoek (the upper valley). In the Notes Hectares In 2002 the owner/main shareholder was A Hermie. 17 October 2006 Page 2 of 15

3 south is a cluster of 5 houses. Along the top of the ridge is arable land: olive groves southerly, and a golf course northerly. High on the site is a large, recently-built house that is seen from many parts of the valley. The property continues up the mountainside ridge. History After the conveniently arable land in the Jonkershoek valley had all been claimed there were pieces of marginal land left over at the edges of estates. This piece is a ridge that separates the Klein Gustrouw and Old Nectar morphological areas. It was granted in 1836 to MJvN Onkruidt (the man who Georgianised Klein Gustrouw). Though it was mountainside, it enclosed the visual boundaries of his estate. In this period many farmers were claiming useless mountainside. Their motivation was often to claim their sources of water (not here), sometimes simply pride in land ownership. Onkruidt may also have been apprehensive that someone else would claim it and perhaps build in a position overlooking him. At this time the public road to Jonkershoek was on the other side of the Eerste Rivier but a track did cross the bottom of the estate as far as Old Nectar, and there was a branch from it running part-way up the ridge. The present main road to Jonkershoek was made in the 20th century. Over time the various Klein Gustrouw land grants were amalgamated, then subdivided differently. Though Konstanz present cadastrals are not the same as in 1836, it is the same ridge of ground. Hilltops in the valley have good soil but were not usually farmed because irrigating them was not cost-effective. That changed in the 20th century and recent years have seen the land planted with olives and the turf of a golf course. There is also a large ornamental pond in front of a modern fantasy schloss that can be seen from many parts of the valley and has become a significant landmark. [History also teaches us what not to do.] The property s history should be studied further and the above outline confirmed. Historical Notes Deeds Office search not attempted. Associated People See Klein Gustrouw Historical Property Associated Events References 1902 Brink Map CA M2-409 shows location of grants 1938 aerial photograph. 1980s orthophoto 2000 aerial photograph Lockley photograph 1986 Sutherland photograph Site visit June 2004 Assessment Significance Statement A prominent ridge on the northern slopes of the valley, it is a highly visible part of the cultural landscape. Significance Category E Proposed Grading 3 heritage area (s. 31) Vulnerablilities A = course / pattern of history B = rarity C = information potential D = characteristic of type E = aesthetic F = creative / technical G = social / cultural / spiritual H = assoc. NB person / group I = slavery Recommendations NHR Act Status Date of Gazette SAHRA File ref. Official Grading Maps 17 October 2006 Page 3 of 15

4 Number of Ortho Photo GPS X Date of Ortho Photo GPS Y Aerial GPS Model Aerial Photo Number GPS Setting Composites (groups of clusters of heritage resources: sub-places and areas) Property Name Composite Name Konstanz, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch District Konstanz upper slopes Catalogue Number 02.24/02 Type of Resource Landscape Objects Konstanz Schloss Track up mountain behind Schloss Orthophoto with added cadastrals (true north) 17 October 2006 Page 4 of 15

5 View of Konstanz upper lands from lower vineyard aerial photo with added (current) cadastrals (true north) 2000 Aerial photo, 2000 (true north) Composite - Description Visual Description The area above the 380 m contour has olive groves above and below a landscaped area around a 'schloss', a fantasy castle built on a small promontory, (Object 02.24/02.01). The gardens include an ornamental lake, a mini golf course and many trees. The approach road runs up the west boundary (which has a row of old gums) and then zig-zags in loops across the contour, where it has wild olives alongside. Above the schloss are more olive groves and a track which zig-zags up the wild mountain slope to viewpoints (not inspected) and across the boundary to the higher mountain slopes of Oude Nektar. 17 October 2006 Page 5 of 15

6 Condition Composite - History History The upper fields post date 1938, but had been cleared by the 1950s (see Lockley photo in composite 02.24/01). By 1986 they were still part of the rural landscape (see Neil Sutherland photo in 02.24), although there appears to have been a small dwelling in a copse of trees near the present Schloss. The present 'gentleman's estate' landscaping post-dates Associated People AssociatedEvents References Composite - Assessment Significance Statement A highly visible part of the cultural landscape of the valley. Significance Category A, E Proposed Grading see Property Vulnerablilities A = course / pattern of history B = rarity C = information potential D = characteristic of type E = aesthetic F = creative / technical G = social / cultural / spiritual H = assoc. NB person / group I = slavery Recommendations Official Grading NHR Act Status Date of Gazette Composite - Objects Property Name Konstanz, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch District Composite Name Konstanz upper slopes Catalogue Number 02.24/02.01 Heritage Resource Name Konstanz Schloss Type of Resource house 17 October 2006 Page 6 of 15

7 aerial photo 1980 Orthophoto with added cadastrals, Konstanz Schloss, front 17 October 2006 Page 7 of 15

8 Konstanz Schloss, west side Objects - Description Visual Description On top a knoll at 400 m, commanding views as far as Table Mountain and visible from miles around, is a double storey house built in the style of a 'Schloss', with steep roofs, rounded, turret-topped bays and a central battlemented tower. It has an ornamental lake on the west side and is surrounded by lushly landscaped gardens. Condition (short) Good Architectural Style Contemporary fantasy castle Objects - History History Built after A previous dwelling was on the site of the ornamental lake. Construction Date Late 20th C Associated People Associated Events References Objects - Assessment Significance Statement An alien element in the cultural landscape, sited obtrusively where it is visible from many surrounding viewpoints. Significance Category -- Proposed Grading -- Vulnerablilities A = course / pattern of history B = rarity C = information potential D = characteristic of type E = aesthetic F = creative / technical G = social / cultural / spiritual H = assoc. NB person / group I = slavery NHR Act Status Not older than 60 years (S. 34) Date of Gazette Official Grading 17 October 2006 Page 8 of 15

9 Recommendations Development of this type, which is highly visible and unsympathetic to the authentic character of the Winelands, should be strenuously avoided in future. Composites (groups of clusters of heritage resources: sub-places and areas) Property Name Composite Name Konstanz, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch District Konstanz mid-slopes Catalogue Number 02.24/01 Type of Resource Rural landscape Objects entrance five houses 2000 Aerial photo, 2000 (true north) 1980 Orthophoto with added cadastrals (true north) 17 October 2006 Page 9 of 15

10 aerial photo with approximate (current) cadastrals added (true north). 1950s Studio Lockley Panorama by Lockley, 1950s. The upper lands are at centre. Composite - Description Visual Description The area below the 380 m contour is farmed land, with vineyards on the lower field, olives and pastures above. From the entrance (Object 02.24/01.01) the road divides to run up the east and west boundaries; the east road skirts the five houses on the east boundary (Object 02.24/01.02) and crosses diagonally above the vineyards to join the west road below the Schloss (Composite 02.24/02) Condition Composite - History History In 1938 only the lowest field (now vineyard) was farmed and there were no buildings, but by the 1950s fields had been cleared on the upper slopes. The olive groves and Schloss are not apparent on a 1986 photo. Associated People AssociatedEvents References 17 October 2006 Page 10 of 15

11 Composite - Assessment Significance Statement Part of the cultural landscape of the valley. Significance Category A, E Proposed Grading 3 Vulnerablilities A = course / pattern of history B = rarity C = information potential D = characteristic of type E = aesthetic F = creative / technical G = social / cultural / spiritual H = assoc. NB person / group I = slavery Recommendations Official Grading NHR Act Status Date of Gazette Composite - Objects Property Name Konstanz, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch District Composite Name Konstanz mid-slopes Catalogue Number 02.24/01.01 Heritage Resource Name Konstanz entrance Type of Resource Boundary wall and gates Konstanz boundary wall from Jonkershoek Road. 17 October 2006 Page 11 of 15

12 Konstanz entry gates. Objects - Description Visual Description Ornate wall with capped posts and taller gateposts along south boundary alongside the Jonkershoek road. Condition (short) Good Architectural Style Objects - History History Not established. The wall probably dates from about the 1980s when the Schloss was built. Construction Date Late 20th C Associated People Associated Events References Objects - Assessment Significance Statement Not historical, but contributes to the experience of the valley from Jonkershoek road. Significance Category A, E Proposed Grading -- A = course / pattern of history B = rarity C = information potential D = characteristic of type E = aesthetic F = creative / technical G = social / cultural / spiritual H = assoc. NB person / group I = slavery Vulnerablilities NHR Act Status Probably not older than 60 years (S. 34) Recommendations Date of Gazette Official Grading 17 October 2006 Page 12 of 15

13 Composite - Objects Property Name Konstanz, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch District Composite Name Konstanz mid-slopes Catalogue Number 02.24/01.02 Heritage Resource Name House cluster, Konstanz Type of Resource houses 2000 Aerial photo, 2000 Contemporary houses, Konstanz. 17 October 2006 Page 13 of 15

14 Contemporary houses, Konstanz. Objects - Description Visual Description Along the east boundary near the road are clustered six modern houses with a brick-paved road running past them. They are well built and appear to be let to tenants (ie not worker housing). Condition (short) Good Architectural Style contemporary Objects - History History Unknown Construction Date Post-1938 Associated People Associated Events References Objects - Assessment Significance Statement Irrelevant; not obtrusive. Significance Category -- Proposed Grading -- A = course / pattern of history B = rarity C = information potential D = characteristic of type E = aesthetic F = creative / technical G = social / cultural / spiritual H = assoc. NB person / group I = slavery Vulnerablilities NHR Act Status Not older than 60 years (S. 34) Recommendations Date of Gazette Official Grading 17 October 2006 Page 14 of 15

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