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De Kloof - Weltevreden Swellendam, Western Cape

Date: 1801 Client: Johan Becker Type: Homestead Style: Cape Dutch Status: Extant Street: Van Manager Street

Die Kloof now Weltevreden, Van Manger Street. This small property was transferred from the 'Landdrost en Heemraden' of Swellendam to Johan Becker in 1801, i.e. it was the equivalent of a grant (see Moolmanshof). In 1815 it was acquired by Herman Frederik Schutte, eldest son of Herman Schutte, who held it till 1819. The nucleus of this charming house, situated near the centre of the town but off the main street up a small valley, must have been Becker's work. It consists of a single row of rooms - to which a wing was added later, turning it into an asymmetrical T-shape - with holbol end-gables similar to those of Moolmanshof, i.e. with the small straight 'breaks' between convex and concave curves slightly out of plumb. Most of the woodwork has been replaced, though one original gable-window survives. It has been restored and given casement windows, probably correctly. It is now a delightful guest-house. [Fransen 2004:463] Books that reference De Kloof - Weltevreden Fransen, Hans. 2004. The old buildings of the Cape. A survey of extant architecture from before c1910 in the area of Cape Town - Calvinia - Colesberg - Uitenhage. Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers. pg 463