Historic buildings in Church Street, Worcester

I wanted to visit Worcester to see the historic buildings in Church Street, Worcester. I also wanted to visit the Karoo Gardens. So we set off early from Tulbagh to drive the 56 kms to Worcester.

A brief history

J H Fisher, the Landdrost in Tulbagh, and his counterpart in Graaff Reinet, felt their districts were too large to manage. They recommended to the Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Charles Somerset, that new districts be established between the two towns. The Governor agreed and this led to the establishment of both Beaufort West and Worcester. The Governor visited the area via Franschoek to inspect the newly acquired farms of Roodewal and Langerug. The new town town was posted in 1820, and plots were put up for sale.

Walking around Worcester

Worcester was laid out on a grid pattern. The Drostdy, built in 1823-25, dominates the Main Street and today it is a school hostel.

The Old Goal was built around the corner in Distillery Road on Langerug, one of the original farms. Originally it was damp and insecure because it had been the farm’s wine cellar.

Church Street in Worcester

The architecturally interesting buildings are mainly situated in Church Street.

Glennan & Rich produced apple vinegar at 170 Church Street and later it became a stables, breeding horses for the Indian army. Today it is an art gallery. Mr Wykeham (!) owned No.168 Church Street which dates to c.1835.

The large building on the corner of Trappes and Tulbagh Street is an amalgam. The original building, No.3, faces Trappes Street and the date of 1853 is on the gable. A section facing Tulbagh Street was developed from the stables (where is the photograph, you ask?). And No. 1 Trappes street was inserted between the two.

Nos.1 - 3 Trappes Street — Nos.1 – 3 Trappes Street

The school on Church Street

No.158 Church Street was one of the first schools in Worcester. No.156 Church Street has a fretwork bargeboard, and broekie lace decoration. No.117 Church Street dates to c.1835.

The churches

The Dutch Reformed Church on Church Square dates from 1824, although subsequent changes have been made. The large square was set aside as the outspan area for the congregation.

The Beck family owned No. 75 Church Street which was built in c.1825. (The family also owned the house around the corner, The Teacup, see the end of the post). The Congregational Church appears traditional and originally dated from 1888, but the current building dates to only 1948. No.74 Church Street has been considerably altered…

Back to Church Street

No.70 Church Street is a Victorian house c.1908. No. 68 Church Street dates from c.1860 and has a Worcester gable with a bow over the tympanum, a form of gabling only found in Worcester. The house belonged to the Assistant Landdrost of Worcester, JF van der Graaff. No.66 Church Street dates to c.1850 and is a double-storied Victorian building with a little balcony. No.56 Church Street dates to c.1860 and has a Worcester-type gable. It belonged to a trader, and later a doctor.

No.54 Church Street is a Victorian house of c.1910. No.33 Church Street is a Victorian house and dates from c.1886. This might have been a blacksmith. Roodewal, No.28 Church Street, dates to c.1830 and has a Worcester gable with a bow over the tympanum. Roodewal, No.28 Church Street, dates to c.1830 and has a Worcester gable with a bow over the tympanum.