In the short article below, an unknown author explores a few blue plaques in Cape Town including one commemorating Herbert Baker's last building in South Africa. The piece appeared in the 1978 edition of Restorica, the journal of the Simon van der Stel Foundation. today the Heritage Association of South Africa (HASA). Thank you to the University of Pretoria (copyright holders) for giving us permission to publish.
One wonders how many people in their daily rush up and down Adderley Street this past week or so, have noticed that another of the Simon van der Stel Foundation's blue larger-than-dinner plate plaques has gone up on the site of Barclay's Bank.
Blue Plaque (The Heritage Portal)
This, of course, records Sir Herbert Baker's last building in South Africa - his first was a rather modest extension to Tokai reformatory. And the two opposite poles indicate how the architect's reputation soared while in South Africa. From initially improving conditions for naughty boys (or else making room for more) to monumental works like Rhodes Memorial, Groote Schuur, Union Buildings and finally the magnificent bank building.
At a special lunch hosted by Mr Alex McGregor, chairman of the bank, we toasted both the bank and the Van der Stel Foundation, whose chairman, Mr Doug Andrews...
