1820 Settlers National Monument

1820 Settlers Monument
Coordinates 33°19′10″S 26°31′10″E / 33.31945°S 26.51933°E / -33.31945; 26.51933Coordinates: 33°19′10″S 26°31′10″E / 33.31945°S 26.51933°E / -33.31945; 26.51933
Location Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Opening date 1974-07-13
Dedicated to 1820 Settlers

The 1820 Settlers National Monument,[1] which honours the contribution to South African society made by the British 1820 Settlers, overlooks[2] Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. A living monument, it commemorates the English language[3] as much as the Settlers themselves. The building was designed by Jock Sturrock (architect),[4] Sturrock was inspired by the work of Louis Kahn.[5]

National Arts Festival

The Monument is closely linked with the National Arts Festival, often known simply as the Grahamstown Festival. Ever since the monument's opening on 13 July 1974, the festival has been held there every year, except for in 1975. Virtually all possible venues in Grahamstown are used during the festival, but the Monument is the anchor of the event and the biggest venue too. The main theatre in the monument complex is named after Guy Butler.

Fire in 1994

The monument was devastated by a fire in 1994[6] and rebuilt[7] and was officially re-dedicated by Nelson Mandela in May 1996.

See also

Notes

  1. Hester Maria Johanna Du Preez (1982). Museums of the Cape: a guide to the province-aided museums of the Cape. Dept. of Nature Environmental Conservation of the Provincial Administration of the Cape of Good Hope. pp. 18–22. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  2. South Africa. Rough Guides. 2002. pp. 378–. ISBN 978-1-85828-853-6. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  3. Erik Doxtader; Charles Villa-Vicencio (2004). To Repair the Irreparable: Reparation and Reconstruction in South Africa. New Africa Books and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (South Africa). pp. 361–. ISBN 978-0-86486-618-9.
  4. MARTINSON, William Andrew. "STURROCK, Frederick Lamond (Jock)". Southern African Built Environment. Artefacts. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  5. "A memorial with a purpose". The Grahamstown Foundation. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  6. South African Parliament (1994). Debates of the Senate (Hansard). Government Printer.
  7. Williams, Lizzie (2013). South Africa Dream Trip. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-907263-69-9.

References

  • Hall, Andrew; Lillie, Ashley (1993). "The National Monuments Council and a Policy for Providing Protection for the Cultural and Environmental Heritage". South African Historical Journal 29 (1): 102–117. doi:10.1080/02582479308671764. ISSN 0258-2473. 

External links

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