Wilgenhof
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Wilgenhof is a men's residence located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. It is the oldest university men's residence in Africa, established in 1903. It serves as a home for students at Stellenbosch University. It has been the home of famous South African political, literature, business and sport figures such as Dr. Danie Craven, Jan Rabie, Beyers Naudé, Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, Christo Wiese, Morne du Plessis, Tiaan Strauss and Whitey Basson during their varsity student years.
[edit] Building Information
The residence currently holds a capacity for about 200 students. In 1967 it was rebuilt and looks about the same today, as it did then, except for a few minor changes (eg. the completion of 2 new main gates in 2006). Before 1967, the building was nicknamed Bekfluitjie (Afrikaans for the musical instrument the harmonica), due to the shape of the residence. The nickname is still used (mostly by other students as a deflammatory term) today.
The main building where most students live consists of 3 floors. There is one long section, with 2 flanks, almost enclosing the open air square surface (or "quad" as it is called) at the center. At the middle of the long section, there is a V shaped staircase ( Die V-trap as it is called in Afrikaans) and another 2 staircases at the ends of the long section.
Next to the main building is a 2 storey building with a dining hall at the bottom floor and a common room on the top floor. Connected to this building is a squash court (named Dok se Hok) and another building that has the role of a washing machine area, storage facilities and staff quarters.
Another building, Hamelhof, is situated away from the main buildings and is currently used as a house for the Inwonende Hoof.
The final building is named Old Bachelors, which dates back more than 200 years and existed prior to the establishment of the residence. It used to serve as a farm house. It is a 2 storey building with rooms for senior students at the top floor, while the residence's pub, the Danie Craven Gedenksentrum ( Danie Craven Memorial Center ) is located on the ground floor. Old Bachelors has been proclaimed a South African national monument.
The residence shares a communal shower.
The main entrances are 2 large gates ( as mentioned ), one of which allows motor vehicle access to the "quad". Other entrances exist for Old Bachelors and the kitchen at the dining hall.
The grounds surrounding the buildings includes a tennis court, parking lot, lawn and recreational field called die tet veld (the tet field). Old Bachelors has its own separate parking next to the tet field.
