Nostalgia
A look at Cape Town long ago
THE HISTORIC CLOCK TOWER AT THE V&A WATERFRONT
This national monument has always been an icon of the Cape Town harbour. Built in 1882 in the Victorian Gothic-style, the Clock Tower used to be the port captain’s office until 1904 when his office moved to the Pierhead. On the ground floor was a tide gauge, used to measure the level of the tide. The second floor houses the beautiful mirror room, with wall-to-wall mirrors that allowed the port captain to view all the activities in the harbour. The clock mechanism can be found on the top floor. Thanks to the complete restoration of the Clock Tower in 1997, the original clock is still in use today. The Clock Tower now houses a restaurant and the mirror room can be booked for functions.
If you have a story about Cape Towns bygone days - an anecdote, memory or family legend - please email emma@hsm.co.za.