Central

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Historic Houses

A couple of the historic houses in one of the streets of Cental. In this immediate area there are many old settler houses that date back to the mid 1800's. Most of them are very well looked after and maintained while others are being restored. Unfortunately just down the street a couple of blocks away there are a lot of buildings crying out to be restored. Unfortunately some of the property owners in Central doesn't care enough about the heritage…

4 Comments
20/11/2009
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Havelock Square

Havelock Square is one of a couple of public parks around the historic part of Central. Havelock square is a bit different though as it is an unfenced park with a one way paved road going around it. Havelock Square was part of The Grey Institute Grant originally surveyed in 1856, with the oldest houses being built in 1862. The Holy Trinity Church on the eastern side of the square was built in 1866 and re- built in 1897 after…

8 Comments
17/11/2009
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Restoration

The area of Central is one of the oldest areas in Port Elizabeth with the most historic building. Even though there are property owners who are in the news a lot for not fixing up their properties, there are a lot of people who does take care to restore their building to its former glory. I took a walk around Central the other day and it is amazing to see how many people are fixing and painting their building. It…

2 Comments
11/11/2009
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The Hill

The area of Central just about the Port Elizabeth CBD used to be called The Hill in the early day. It was because the area is situated at the top of quite a steep hill and it was a struggle to get horse carts, ox wagons and even the tram up the steep bit to the top. This pic is taken from the top of the Donkin Lighthouse looking towards on of the older parts of Central. In the foreground…

5 Comments
29/08/2009
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City Hall

The view towards the Port Elizabeth City Hall from the entrance of the Main Public Library with the statue of Queen Victoria in the foreground.

5 Comments
31/05/2009
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St Johns Methodist Church

Central is the oldest part of Port Elizabeth and in the old days was known as The Hill. There are many historic buildings around Central, but some of the most beautiful old buildings are the stone churches of which there are many littered throughout the area. This one is the St Johns Methodist Church.

4 Comments
10/05/2009
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Constance Hair Salon

A couple of years ago the (not so) Grand Hotel in Central started to encourage small businesses to rent space on Whites Road to trade from what I think used to be garages. Not many took them up on the offer. Some of those who did painted the outside of their shops pink to try and attract the clientele. In this case pink doesn't mean "Pink". So if you need a hair cut, give Constance a call.

1 Comment
04/04/2009
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The Spotted Cow

I was in the upgraded Parliament Street last week, for a political meeting, (COPE, in case you are curious :) )which was held at the Spotted Cow. This is a really interesting place, a cocktail bar, with a sports bar attached, in what used to be a church hall. It still has the wooden vaulted ceiling and arched windows, but the interior has been modernised with a stainless steel mezzanine and a massive screen on the opposite wall for projecting…

4 Comments
25/02/2009
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Constitution Hill

Looking up Constitution Hill, in Port Elizabeth Central. The steeple sticking up in the background is from the Hill Presbytarian Church, which we have featured before.

2 Comments
24/02/2009