BELOW:

The Fort and Castle of Good Hope

RHODES MEMORIAL

Cecil John Rhodes and Rhodes Memorial

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The Fort and Castle of Good Hope

In the centre of Cape Town lies the Castle, South Africa's oldest building. In 1652, on the 6 April, Jan van Riebeeck arrived in South Africa. He sailed to South Africa to set up a refreshment station for sailors sailing to the East. Before he started he had to build a shelter so he and his helpers, decided to build a fort out of sods of earth, clay, bricks and mud. But in the winter it got washed away. There was also other damages done to the fort like the garden got washed away, the kitchen wall fell down, there were many leaks and at one stage many people got sick. So they had to rebuild it. This is the castle that people can see today.

The castle is over 350 years old. It lies in the heart of Cape Town and is the oldest surviving building in South Africa. It still has its thick walls made of stone. Criminals were hung from a thick rope within the castle walls. If they weren't hung they were put into the smelly, dirty dungeon. 
It is now a national monument (since 1936) and it is a very interesting place to visit.

Sorrel and Jaime.

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In 1912, Rhodes Memorial was built to show Rhodes' desire to "Make Africa British from the Cape to Cairo." Rhodes Memorial was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and Francis Macey, and built from Table Mountain’s granite. There are 8 large lions on each side of the stairway, and a bust (a statue of only the head and neck) of Rhodes by J.M. Swan. A statue of a prancing horse is there to show "physical energy". There is a stunning view of Cape Town below and you can see as far as the sea. A few wild deer, wildebees and zebra roam around the surrounding forest.

On a wall of the memorial, is an enscription written by Rudyard Kipling who was a friend of Cecil John Rhodes. It says, "The immense and brooding spirit still shall quicken and control. Living he was the land, and dead his soul shall be her soul."

Cecil John Rhodes was a businessman. By the age of 35, he controlled the largest diamond mining and trading companies in South Africa. He fought non-stop for the British. Zimbabwe, was formerly Rhodesia. Rhodesia was named after Cecil John Rhodes.

Melissa.

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Cecil John Rhodes and Rhodes Memorial

By Saarah V (Grade 3, age 9)

Cecil John Rhodes was born in July 1853.  He was the son of a vicar and had five brothers.  Till the age of thirteen he lived in England.  His father send him to Natal to live with his brother in 1870.  He soon moved to Kimberley.  He moved there to be by the diamond mines.  At the age of twenty he became a wealthy man from mining diamonds.  By 1888 he had control over all diamond production in Kimberley.  His dream was for the British to control the whole of South Africa.  He became the Minister of the Cape.  Some land was named Rhodesia after him.  He died of an incurable heart disease in 1902.  He was buried in Matopos Hills in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

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1. The bust of Cecil John Rhodes looking out over Cape Town.

2.The inscription is by Rudyard Kipling. This is Saarah in front of the bust.

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Rhodes Memorial was built in memory of Cecil John Rhodes. The Memorial is situated above the University of Cape Town and has an amazing view of the City.  The Rhodes Memorial is surrounded by pine forest.  The forests are really beautiful and have good hiking trails through them.

3. Looking up at Rhodes Memorial.  The horse and rider “Physical Energy”  were sculptured by G F Watts and another of these statues is in Hyde Park in London.    The Lions are the same as the ones at Trafalgar Square. 

4. The view of Cape Town suburbs from Rhodes Memorial.