(English follows)
Mens dink nie dadelik aan Markstraat as een van die mees historiese strate in Stellenbosch nie! Maar hierdie kronkelstraat (wat die Braak met Dorpstraat verbind) het reeds in 1776 bestaan en het 'n interessante storie agter sy naam.
Vandag word Markstraat veral deur toeriste gebruik omdat die Stellenbosch 360 toerismekantoor daarin geleë is, sowel as die Speelgoed en miniatuurmuseum, die Stumble Inn Backpackers, en die Stellenbosch Adventure Centre. Ten spyte van 'n paar beskermde huise wat die straat vandag toeristevriendelik maak, is daar ongelukkig heelwat onooglike geboue (soos die Builders Express kompleks teenaan Dorpstraat) wat die historiese karakter van die straathoek baie afgebreek het.
'n Historiese skildery van Schumacher wys dat Markstraat reeds in 1776 bestaan het, en op Hertzog se 1817 kaart is dit 'n formele, afgebakende straat. Heelwat van hierdie huise staan vandag nog. Een van hierdie huise is die Van der Bijlhuis, wat die eerste huis in die straat was. Alhoewel dit intussen 'n tweede verdieping bygekry het, behou dit steeds sy historiese karakter. Die huis is onlangs restoureer deur HB argitekte en dien nou as hoofkantoor van Rouxcor Holdings LTD.
So wat is die oorsprong van die naam Markstraat? Op die webtuiste van die museums van Stellenbosch verduidelik Marius Le Roux dat die Kruithuis, waarop Markstraat uitloop, op een stadium as die dorp se markgebou gebruik is. Die Kruithuis was oorspronklik die dorp se wapenmagasyn.
The V.O.C. Kruithuis [...] soon lost its military importance and less than seventy years later it became the site of the local Friday market. In time structural additions to the back and sides of the building made the Market House more suitable for this purposes. The sloping roof on the left of the building housed the fire brigade Stellenbosch for many years. (Click here to read more)
In 1859 is daar besluit om die gebou in te rig as die plaaslike brandweerstasie. Carl Otto Hager, wat ook die Moederkerk en die Lutherse kerk ontwerp het (vandag GUS kunsgalery), is aangestel om 'n paar veranderinge aan te bring teen 'n vergoeding van 5 pond.
Interessant genoeg was die Kruithuis ook Stellenbosch se eerste plaaslike museum, wat in 1942 geopen. Na die einde van die oorlog is dit gesluit en eers in 1956 weer as museum heropen. Vandag is dit 'n wapenmuseum.
Stellenbosch toerismekantoor se webtuiste is 'n goeie bron as jy die dorp wil verken (al is jy 'n plaaslike Stellenbosser). Gaan kyk ook na die nuwe Stellenbosch Visio tydskrif vir 'n paar lekker idees vir winter in Stellenbosch.
------lééf Stellenbosch!---------
Artikel en hooffoto: Y Coetsee
Bronne: Stellenbosch Drie eeue
http://www.stelmus.co.za/voc_kruithuis.htm
http://www.stellenbosch.travel/stellenbosch-360/about-stellenbosch-360
https://www.hbarchitects.co.za...
One does not immediately think of Mark Street as one of the most historic streets in Stellenbosch! But this arched street (which connects the Braak with Dorp Street) already existed in 1776, and has an interesting story to its name.
Today, Mark Street is regularly used by tourists, since it houses the Stellenbosch 360 tourism office, the Toy and miniature museum, the Stumble Inn Backpackers, and Stellenbosch Adventure Centre. Unfortunately, despite its historic and tourist friendly nature, there are plenty of unsightly buildings in Mark Street today (such as the Builders Express complex opposite Dorp Street) severely disrupting the historic character of the street.
An historic painting by Schumacher reveals that Mark Street already existed in 1776, and on Hertzog's 1817 map the street had been formally delimited. Many of the early houses still exist today. One of these, the Van der Bijlhuis, was the first house to be built in the street. Although a second floor was added, the house still retains its historical character. The Van der Bijlhuis was recently restored by HB architects and now serves as headquarters of Rouxcor Holdings LTD.
So what is the origin of the name Mark Street? Marius Le Roux explains that the Kruithuis, one of the focus point in Mark Street, was once used as the town's market building. The Kruithuis was of course designed as the town's arms magazine.
The V.O.C. Kruithuis [...] soon lost its military importance and less than seventy years later it became the site of the local Friday market. In time structural additions to the back and sides of the building made the Market House more suitable for this purposes. The sloping roof on the left of the building housed the fire brigade Stellenbosch for many years. (Click here to read more)
In 1859 it was decided to utilize the Kruithuis as the local fire station. Carl Otto Hager, who also designed the Mother Church and the Lutheran Church (today GUS art gallery), was appointed to make a few adjustments (for which he earned a 5-pound reimbursement). Incidentally the Kruithuis was also Stellenbosch's earliest local museum, opened in 1942. After the war it was closed an only reopened in 1956. Today it is a weaponry museum.
If you want to keep on exploring our town, Stellenbosch 360’s website is a usefull tool (even if you're a local!). Also check out the new Stellenbosch Visio magazine for some warm winter ideas.
------ live Stellenbosch! ---------