Slave Lodge, Cape Town

Slave Lodge

Slave Lodge, Cape Town
Location within Cape Town
Coordinates	33°55′30″S18°25′13″E / 33.92506°S 18.420393°E / -33.92506; 18.420393
Type	Cultural history
Website	www.iziko.org.za/museums/slave-lodge

The Slave Lodge is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town, South Africa, with a history spanning more than three centuries. The building has served various purposes over the years, transitioning from its original role as a slave lodge to housing government offices, the Old Supreme Court, and eventually becoming the South African Cultural History Museum. Today, it is part of the Iziko Museums of South Africa.

History

Slave Lodge (1679 – 1811)

The Slave Lodge was built in 1679 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to house enslaved people brought to the Cape Colony to work for the company. ^[1] The structure initially accommodated up to 500 enslaved individuals, who lived in overcrowded conditions. The lodge was designed as a secure and enclosed building.^{[ citation needed ]}

The enslaved individuals housed in the lodge came from regions including East Africa, Madagascar, India, and Southeast Asia. ^[2] They worked in agriculture, construction, and domestic service.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1795, the British captured the Cape Colony for the first time, returning it briefly to the Dutch in 1803 under the Batavian Republic. British control resumed in 1806 following the Battle of Blaauwberg. In 1811, under British administration, the building ceased to function as a slave lodge. ^[3]

Government Offices Building (1811 – 1911)

After its use as a slave lodge ended, the building was repurposed to house various government offices. ^[4] Modifications were made to the structure to accommodate its administrative functions.^{[ citation needed ]}

During this period, it served as the seat of colonial administration. In 1854, the first Cape Parliament was established, marking a significant political milestone in the colony's governance.^{[ citation needed ]}

Old Supreme Court (1911 – 1960s)

In 1911, the building was repurposed as the Old Supreme Court. Architectural modifications were made to create courtrooms and judicial chambers. This role continued through significant legal and political developments, including the rise of segregationist laws in the early 20th century.^{[ citation needed ]}

The court functioned at this location until the construction of new judicial facilities in the 1960s.^{[ citation needed ]}

South African Cultural History Museum (1960s – 1998)

In 1966, the building underwent restoration and was designated as the South African Cultural History Museum. ^[4] The museum opened to the public in 1967. It houses cultural artifacts and historical displays related to the history of the region, including exhibits on slavery and broader themes in cultural history.^{[ citation needed ]}

Slave Lodge Museum (1998 – Present)

In 1998, the museum was renamed the Slave Lodge Museum and became part of the Iziko Museums of South Africa, which manage several key heritage sites in the Western Cape.^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• List of museums in South Africa
• Slavey in South Africa

References

1. Shell, Robert C.-H.; Shell, Robert Carl-Heinz (1994). Children of bondage: a social history of the slave society at the Cape of Good Hope, 1652 - 1838. Hanover, NH: Wesleyan Univ. Press. ISBN   978-1-86814-275-0.
2. Worden, Nigel (1985). Slavery in Dutch South Africa. African studies series. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-25875-3.
3. "Slave Lodge, Cape Colony | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
4. "Slave Lodge – Slavery in South Africa" . Retrieved 6 February 2025.

External links

• Media related to Old Slave Lodge, Cape Town at Wikimedia Commons
• Site by Old Slave Lodge, Adderley Street, Cape Town , at SAHRA