Inventory Reference
Formal Gradings
Grading
Grade II
GradingComment

archiveimport Grading by: South African Heritage Resources Agency

Statement of Significance

The original corbelled dwelling, built by Hendriks Esterhuyse in 1872, is almost identical with that at Klipkolk. It is rectangular in plan and has an internal length of 18ft. The walls are 2ft. 3ins. thick and the doorway, placed centrally on the front, is 2ft. 10ins. wide and 6ft. high. It has two stone lintels and still retains its halved stable doors. A small window opening faces the entrance and there is a second similar opening to the left of the entrance, both of which are fitted with external hinged wooden shutters. There is a tiny keeping hole in the left hand wall and it is noticeable that the keeping hole is invariably placed in this position whether the huts are rectangular or circular in plan. The interior was originally divided into two rooms by a wooden partition which has since been removed.
It is stated that 1200 waggon loads of stone were brought to build this dwelling which has three courses of projecting stones. The large opening at the top is closed by a number of flat stone slabs partly supported by two timber joists. The hut is fronted by a paved stoep.
At a later stage three small rectangular flat-roofed rooms were tacked on to the original corbelled dwelling.