Ida's Valley
6/1075
Address
Rustenburg Road
Date Built
Suggested Grading
II
Property Number
6/1075
Present NHRA protection
S27
Older than 60 years - at time of survey
yes
Description
Ida’s Valley homestead is H-shaped, with fine back and front holbol gables dated 1789. The front of the house was Victorianised, but the back retains original joinery, including a fanlight with waves incorporated within its mullions, and fine ornamental plasterwork. The wine cellar also boasts a holbol central gable (dated 1817) and end-gables with pointed caps. The fowl run was restored<br />
by Fagan. The site was visited in 2018 and is still in good repair, and well conserved.
Details
Valley
Idas Valley (E01-E03)
Area
Idas Valley Area (E01-E03)
Landscape Unit
E02
Townscape
Landscape Unit Grade
Grade I
Architect / Builder
Unknown, restored by G.T. Fagan in 1970s.
Current Use
Agricultural werf
Original Use
Agricultural werf
General Evaluation
Interior Description
No access, but Fransen (2004: 199) refers to the fine, original Batavian floor tiles within the house.
History
The valley as a whole was granted in Francois Villon in 1683, and re-granted in 1692 to his widow. <br />
In 1775 it was purchased by Samuel Johannes Cats, who built the farmhouse in 1789 (Fransen,<br />
2004: 199). In 1812 it came into the de Villiers family, and they owned the farm until the 1860s. The<br />
farm is presently owned by the Erskine Trust.
Grouping with other sites
The site forms part of the Ida’s Valley Grade I area.
Evidence of Demolition
Contextual Design
Invasive Elements
Heritage Vulnerability
Encroachment from the town.
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Map
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Latitude/Longitude
-33.916538 / 18.887136
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Additional Information
Additional Documents
Survey
2016
Circa
Admin Area
Allotment
Zoning
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Date of survey
2016
Linked to erf/erven
Linked Address
Environment
Valley PDF
AREA PDF
Landscape Unit PDF
Townscape PDF
2016 Survey Document - Site PDF
OTHER DOCUMENTS
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NHRA Significance
Age
High
Archaeology
Medium
Architectural
High
Associational
Medium
Intangible
Medium
* SCALE USED: High / Medium / Low / None
Rarity
High
Representivity
Medium
Scientific
Low
Symbolic
Medium
Statement of Significance
The Ida’s Valley farmstead and werf area is of high historical significance within the valley as a
whole. It constitutes a very fine example of a Cape Dutch werf. The buildings have high degrees
of architectural significance, authenticity and intactness. The mature landscaping is appropriate
to the werf as a whole. The farm has associations with the arrival of the Hugenots at the Cape, as
well as with the history of slavery. The site is a rare and excellent example of its type.
Landscape Significance
The gardens, mature trees and many other landscape features contribute to the farm werf as a whole.
The backdrop of foothills and mountain peaks is important to the setting of the farm werf.
A formal garden and axial approach avenue are critical to the sense of place of the werf.
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Additional Photos
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