Established in 1897, Kensington is one of Johannesburg’s oldest suburbs. Far away from the noise and dust of the mines, and possessing scenic beauty, good schools and parks that were the envy of Johannesburg, it soon became the suburb of choice for the City’s middle class. The homes and institutions that they built are among our heritage treasures: the Lion House, Kensington Castle, the Sanatorium, Jeppe Boys and Girls and the Scottish Horse Memorial. But time does not stand still in Johannesburg, and Kensington has been subject to the same development pressures as the rest of the City. Recognising this challenge to its built heritage, Kensington residents Elaine Rose-Thorne and Isabella Pingle founded the Kensington Heritage Trust in 2011. For the past five years it has valiantly fought to preserve the suburb’s heritage, with notable successes and some disappointments.
 
Join Brett McDougall in conversation with Isabella Pingle of the Kensington Heritage Trust, as they discuss the history of the suburb, its built heritage treasures, and what is being done to save them.