ShowMe: The Prestwich Memorial
When is the Prestwich Memorial open to public?
Monday – Friday 08:00 – 17:00
Saturday – Sunday 08:00 – 13:00
Where is the Prestwich Memorial?
On the corner of Buitengracht Street and Somerset Road in Greenpoint.
Why is it a Memorial?
More then 2500 human remains and skeletons belonging to slaves, servants, sailors, indigenous people and others executed by the Dutch VOC were found beneath the ground…
Those belonging to the colonial underclass weren’t allowed access to the formal church cemeteries during the 17th and 18th centuries and their bodies were assigned to an area named District One which comprised of unmarked graves as far as the Bo-Kaap to Table Bay.
Today the memorial pays respect to those who helped build the foundations of our Mothercity…
How did they find the skeletons and human remains?
The accidental discovery of the unmarked graves in District One was made when construction for new apartments in Prestwich Street, Green Point, commenced in 2003.
What does the Prestwich Memorial look like?
A Red brick Visitor/Information Centre, memorial garden and Ossuary.
What’s an Ossuary?
“An Ossuary is a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains.”
– Wikipedia
What’s in the Visitor/Information Centre?
Exhibitions and Information that explain and tell the story of District One, Slavery, Forced Removals, Post-Apartheid developments and Cape Town’s history.
Truth Coffee Shop also has a franchise in the centre and the Green Point CID has recently made available free Wi-Fi at St Andrew’s Square…
What else is there to see or experience at the Prestwich Memorial?
The Memorial forms part of St Andrew’s Square which has become a popular walk through and pit stop for pedestrians. The square has trees and lawns with benches and public toilets. Interesting sculptures and art can be seen in the square and you can even still find the outlines of old tram tracks and horse-drawn trams that form part of this historical heritage site.
Content: Ed Beukes