SARAH WINTER HERITAGE CONSULTANT

21 Upper Towers Road Muizenberg 7945 P O BOX 281 Muizenberg 7950

021-7885923 082 4210 510 [email protected]

9th June 2014

Attention: Heritage Western Cape

PROPOSED ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO BOSCHENDAL WERF, FARM NO 1674 PORTION 10, STELLENBOSCH (PROVINCIAL HERITAGE SITE)

A. INTRODUCTION

Sarah Winter in association with Arcon Heritage Consultants were appointed by Boschendal Pty Ltd to assist with a National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA; Act 25 of 1999) Section 27 application to Heritage Western Cape (HWC) for proposed alterations and additions to the Boschendal werf situated on Farm No. 1674 Portion 10, Stellenbosch. The werf is a declared provincial heritage site. It is located in the Dwars River Valley which falls within the Grade I Cape Winelands Cultural Landscape. The proposals include alterations and additions to the historic coach house, slave lodge and kraal.

Figure 1: Location of Boschendal werf within the Dwars River Valley, Stellenbosch

Figure 2: Location of the coach house/stables and slave quarter within the werf context. The purple outline indicates the extent of the PHS.

B. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Boschendal was first granted to Jean le Long in 1685. Title deeds issued a few years later indicate ‘Boschendal A’ being issued to Huguenot Nicolaas de Lanoy in 1690 and ‘Boschendal B’ being issued to Jean Le Long in 1713. These two farms were joined in 1715 when they were both acquired by Abraham de Villiers. Boschendal remained in the ownership of the de Villiers family until 1879 (Boschendal Museum Research 2008).

It was during 1717 and 1738 that the first buildings were probably erected on the werf. Substantial improvements were made to the werf between 1807 and 1840, when Boschendal was owned by Paul de Villiers. The wine cellar was constructed in circa 1802 and the coach house opposite was probably built at the same time. The present homestead was constructed in circa 1818 incorporating the foundations of an earlier dwelling. According to census returns in 1814, Paul De Villiers owned 31 slaves which had to be housed and 10 horses which had to be stabled. Furthermore he had 100 oxen and 17 sheep and for which kraals had to be provided (Fagan 1974).

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Boschendal was one of 26 farms in the Drakenstein Valley acquired by Cecil John Rhodes from 1897 and consolidated under Rhodes Fruit Farms (RFF). Rhodes instructed his agents to give preference to those farms with examples of Cape Dutch homesteads and set aside substantial sums for their maintenance. The historical homesteads such as Boschendal became RFF managerial residences (Baumann & Winter 2006; Titlestad 2008).

De Beers took over RFF in 1925. In 1937 De Beers sold RFF to Abe Bailey and after his death in 1940 a syndicate of business interests acquired RFF and they owned and developed it for the next 28 years. In 1969 Anglo American and de Beers purchased RFF to become Amfarms for the next 31 years (Baumann & Winter 2006; Boschendal Museum 2008; Titlestad 2008).

In 1976 the homestead, outbuildings and gardens were restored/renovated to their 19th century appearance under the supervision of Gabriel Fagan Architects. Amongst the interventions undertaken were the reconstruction of the matching and facing gables of the “modernised’ wine cellar and coach-house/stables. The coach house/stables and slave quarters were entirely re- plastered and their earlier bricked up openings reinstated. They were given new floors, reed ceilings laid on poplar beams and a new roof construction under thatch (Fagan 1974; Fransen 2004).

According to the Fagan restoration report dated 1974, the slave quarters were restored with the reinstatement of central double doors giving access to a wagon house or large store. The separate living quarters flanking the store were restored with two units to northern end, and two units to the southern end being combined into one. Modern bathroom and kitchen facilities were also added. In the 1990s further alterations to the slave quarters were undertaken to accommodate its use as Le Café restaurant.

Boschendal werf was declared a national monument in 1979. In the late 1970s it was established as a museum/tourism/restaurant facility, one of the first establishments of its kind in the Cape Winelands, and now a major tourism destination.

C. HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

Boschendal werf is of outstanding heritage value, one of the most iconic farm werfs within the Cape Winelands. It is worthy of Grade II, possibly even Grade I heritage status for historical, architectural, aesthetic, social and scientific (archaeological) reasons.

It is highly representative of the ‘grand set’ pieces of the Cape Winelands dating to the early 19th century and incorporating a range of built elements, e.g. homestead, wine cellar/cooper, coach house/stables, slave quarters, kraals, fowl-run, werf walling. Its linear street-like layout is unique with outbuildings forming two long parallel rows behind the homestead. Its 1970s restoration to an early 19th century ‘Cape Dutch’ appearance reflects prevailing conservation attitudes at the time. The authenticity of its historical fabric and architectural character is variable ranging from a relatively high degree of authenticity of the homestead to its more heavily restored outbuildings, i.e. wine cellar, coach house/stables and slave quarters.

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D. MOTIVATION FOR THE PROPOSALS

The following motivation has been provided by Philip Briel Architects, the principle architect for the project.

Boschendal Pty Ltd has made a decision to upgrade the hospitality and tourism facilities at Boschendal werf. The current facilities date from the 1970s and are in need of upgrading to respond to changing hospitality trends. It is also believed that the current circulation and sense of arrival can be enhanced. To this end, the following is proposed:

• Consolidating the point of gravity closer to the homestead by allowing a vibrant farm stall/ deli in the coach house/stables building across from the existing restaurant in the wine cellar. This outlet forms a major part of the principal of ‘farm to plate’ which Boschendal intends to pursue. • The slave quarters are more suitable as a wine tasting and shop facility as it requires less floor space, ceiling height and consolidated space than the farm stall. • Boschendal Pty Ltd is investing in the production of high quality meat and the current kitchen of the Le Café is intended to be utilised as a boutique butchery and charcuterie. It requires substantial refrigeration and equipment which is currently available in that space. • The kraal enclosure between the coach house and the slave quarters are underutilised outdoor spaces. It is proposed that the gabled ends facing these kraals be punctured with doors in order to allow for better cross axial flow. • An opening is proposed between the two kraals to complete the cross axial flow between the two buildings. • A narrow archway is proposed from the parking area into the kraal. This opening is located on a secondary west – east axis and provides for a more pronounced sense of arrival.

E. ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSALS

In principle, the proposed upgrading hospitality and tourism facilities at Boschendal will have a positive heritage impact in terms of sustaining its long term conservation and its semi-public use. More specific heritage implications of the proposals are assessed below.

E.1 Fabric implications

The underlying purpose of the proposals is to minimize physical interventions to the historic fabric and, where necessary, ensure that the 'making good' of such interventions is as compatible with the old fabric as possible. For this reason:

i) Mortars & renders: Only lime mortars and renders are to be used, even for proposed new walls. This is to ensure that there is no possibility of Portland cement inadvertently finding its way into any of the mortar or render mixes. Note that the mixes specified are guide mixes for submission purposes only. Final mixes will need to be determined on site after field trials have been conducted.

ii) New services: Most of the new services will not be chased into old wall or floor fabric. For example, new suspended floors will be introduced in new toilet areas to over-sail old floor surface fabric (e.g. cobbles) thereby concealing soil and waste pipes without excavating interiors. Limited penetration of old external wall fabric will, however be required for both

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merchandising and farm stall buildings to connect to the existing sewer run within the internal werf space. New electrical services in the farm stall block (coffee bar) will be concealed behind new panels installed proud of the old side walls. New waste pipes in the scullery area will be mounted proud of the old walls and concealed below kitchen counter level.

iii) Joinery and fittings: All new counters will be free standing to avoid fastening into old fabric. This will include the proposed new shelving system between the internal buttresses in the farm stall (coffee bar) area. New doors will match those forming part of the Fagan restoration, as indicated in the images on Drawing BD FS: 2014/1.00/3, but inscribed with the present date of insertion on inconspicuous parts of the relevant door frames.

iv) New partition walls: New brick partition walls will preclude the introduction of new foundations to avoid floor excavation if at all possible. This will, however, have to be subject to confirmation on site. New walls will be extended up against the undersides of existing reed ceilings. This will not require invasive 'surgery', even though these ceilings are late 20th century reconstructions.

E.2 Werf character implications

The proposed interventions to the slave quarters and coach house/stables will not impact the main facades of these buildings and their relationship with the central werf space.

The provision of a new entry point from the parking area to the werf is low key and does not interfere with the integrity and character of the werf in terms of axial and hierarchical arrangements, and sense of enclosure. It will also enhance the experiential qualities of the werf in terms of visitor flow. The proposal will necessitate landscaping interventions to the parking area to mark the new entrance, albeit in the subtle manner, and to keep it clear of vehicles. The current parking area is appropriately informal, and this character should be retained. It is recommended that any landscaping proposals for this area be subject to a landscape plan submitted to HWC for approval.

E.3 Archaeological implications

Any below ground disturbance within and around the werf will have a potential impact on historical archaeology, and will thus need to be monitored by a specialist archaeologist.

F. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The proposed interventions to the coach house/stables and slave quarters will have minimal physical impact on the historic fabric on condition that technical expertise is provided by a heritage architect during construction works. The proposed new entry point from the parking area will have minimal impact on the integrity of the werf. It will enhance the experiential qualities of the werf in terms of visitor flow. However, it is recommended that any landscaping interventions within the parking area be subject to a landscape plan submitted to HWC for approval. Archaeological monitoring of any demolition work and excavations within and around the werf is also recommended.

It is thus recommended that approval for the proposals be granted in terms of Section 27 of the NHRA subject to the following conditions:

• The development is accordance with the plans, elevations and sections dated June 2014 (Drawing BD FS: 2014/1.00/3).

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• Structural interventions to the historic fabric and the ‘making good’ of such interventions must be supervised with the input of a heritage architect, who must submit a completion report to HWC. This should also include advice on mortar mixes and paint finishes. • Landscaping interventions within the parking area must be subject to a landscape plan submitted to HWC for approval. • All demolition work and excavations for services/landscaping within and around the werf must be monitored by a specialist archaeologist and archaeological resources must be recorded and rescued where possible.

Sarah Winter Graham Jacobs

REFERENCES

Baumann, Nicolas and Winter, Sarah (2006). Boschendal Farmlands Founders Estates Heritage Impact Assessment. Prepared for Boschendal Pty Ltd Boschendal Museum (2008). Farm research Fagan, GT Architects (1974) Boschendal Simondium 7108 sk1 Fransen, Hans (2004). The Old Buildings of the Cape. Jonathan Ball Publishers, Cape Town Titlestad, Sally (2008). Boschendal Farmlands, Catalogue and Illustrated Timeline. Prepared for Boschendal Pty Ltd Winter, Sarah and Baumann, Nicolas (2013). Heritage Impact Assessment of Proposed Expansion of Hospitality and Tourism Facilities as Boschendal Farm, Dwars River Valley, Stellenbosch. Prepared for Boschendal Pty Ltd

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