A little MORE Heritage

MORE Family Collection’s Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel, situated in the trendy suburb of Gardens in Cape Town, has many stories to tell.

The double-story Georgian-Victorian home was originally built as a Georgian farmhouse in the early 1800s.

“This Georgian style can be seen in the symmetry of the building, its rectangular design, and its shutters,” explains Alan Rose, General Manager of Cape Cadogan and her sister property, More Quarters Neighbourhood Hotel.

According to Alan, Suite 3 used to be the old wagon shed and stables – and while the room looks nothing like a shed now, the building’s previous incarnations can be seen in the unique design of each of Cadogan’s suites.

“In 1912 the owners of the building worked with an architect named Ernest Selinger,” Alan says. “He was involved in adding the second floor and Victorianising the building. This can be seen in the sash and bay windows, iron railings, columns and wooden floors.”

Cape Cadogan was declared a National Monument in 1984. In South Africa, the National Heritage Resources Act stipulates that places of cultural or historical significance be protected by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). This means that special permits are required for working on or changing these sites.

Cape Cadogan today

In addition to her heritage status, Cadogan’s current theme also has its roots in history.

Alan elaborates... “The theme of the hotel is Oscar Wilde. He was an Irish poet and playwright who was quite a daring character. Articles refer to him having a ‘Bohemian’ lifestyle. He was arrested at The Cadogan Hotel in London for having an affair with the Marquess of Canterbury’s son in 1895.”

According to an article by CNN Travel, The Cadogan Hotel was ‘both risqué and respectable’ and was a place where ‘artists, authors and intellectuals would meet and socialize over dinner or a drink’.

If you stroll through the hotel’s foyer, you’ll find pictures of Wilde, as well as of that period.

“All the furniture is quite dark, and we have wooden floors and quite large, decorative chairs. We went with a very daring theme in line with that style, all while keeping the hotel hip and historic,” Alan concludes.

Words by: Michelle Loewenstein
Photos by: Dook Photography