Friday, August 26, 2011

Swan in for a coffee and some culture

"Swanbourne" is a lovely old house in the shadow of Muizenberg Peak which you can just see on the left. It was designed in 1899 by non other than Sir Herbert Baker, the renowned "arts and crafts" architect who lived and worked in South Africa for a while at the turn of the nineteenth century. It can be found in Beach Road, Muizenberg, and anyone can pop in for a look and a cup of coffee. It was acquired by the great-granddaughter of the founder of the Cape Times, Joan St Leger who bequeathed the house and adjoining properties to create an arts and cultural centre where there are changing art displays, a library, a gallery of evocative photos of how Muizenberg once looked, and a café. Concerts are sometimes held too. This house is also part of a retirement home for the rather affluent. For more on that and its history, click here.

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