Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Runciman's Building Simon's Town, Western Cape John PARKER: Architect 1899

Date: c1800 : 1899 Type: Retail Status: Extant Street: St George   Click to view large map Coordinates: 34°11'35.84" S 18°25'50.13" E Alt: 19m

The existing imposing Victorian frontage was added c.1898 to a building dating from c.1800. (Audrey Read, Simonstown Historical Society, 2019) Originally built in 1785 by Jeremias Auret as a lodging house. At various times used as a private dwelling, bonded store, chandlers, warehouse. From 1860 the building housed the Post Office. Bought in 1898 by William Runciman who employed the architect John Parker to design the impressive Victorian façade to replace the Cape Dutch style frontage. It can be seen that this carries no name and is askew to the side walls. For many years the building housed a grocery, bottle store and chemist. There is believed to be little change in the fabric of the building since 1899. (PocketSights, submitted by Annelise Lange) References: Parker, Howard. 2015. John Parker, 1866-1921 : architect and mayor of Cape Town. Wellington, New Zealand: Howard Parker. pg 76