Preserving a piece of history: The Old Timber Shed
The Old Timber Shed was the topic of conversation at the most recent meeting of the Van Plettenberg Historical Society (VPHS) – held on 20 February 2024 – and was a truly historical occasion held, naturally, at the popular Old Rectory.
I wanted to introduce our 2 latest members – not one but two Jerlings – Dion brought along his brother Andre’ and both were a delight to have on our ExCo, contributing much energy and agreeing with our new plans drawn up by Rodney Grosskopff (an architect of note who designed Ponte Towers in JHB) who now lives permanently in Plett. Our drawings at the moment constitute our dream for the Timber Shed: with a museum, coffee shop & tourist information center, plus a modern auditorium where tourists and school children can watch slides or video shows of the Timbershed and other historical buildings and places in Plett.
The Timber Shed’s history, dating back to when the Timber Shed was built 238 years ago – 1786 when the Dutch East India Company contracted with Johann Jacob Jerling to build the Timber Shed in Meeding Street to be used for the stacking and storing of large logs of timber which were to be shipped to the Cape for building the Castle in Cape Town.
More than 200 years later, to introduce the two Jerling brothers onto our Committee of the VPHS, really made this really momentous occasion complete, and we celebrated the moment with two bottles of chilled bubbly and croissants supplied by the Old Rectory. Having the ExCo meeting in this place made this a special occasion: sitting under a huge umbrella under the African sky on a gloriously sunny day in the courtyard of the Old Rectory, where, in 1869 the Reverend Edwin Gibbs, the curate of St Peter’s Church lived in the building that was to become known The Rectory and, in time, The Old Rectory Hotel & Spa.
While we sipped our coffee we could see at the bottom of the garden, the old “Wood Barn” which was used as a temporary church until 1875. It was here that the Bishop himself conducted services. In 1881 the new St Peter’s Church was completed, and In 1901 this same Wood Barn was used as a school. The school advertised for a new teacher in 1911, and Michael William Dunn was appointed.
Dunne was the first teacher to become principal in Plettenberg Bay. And sitting around the table in our ExCo on this sunny Tuesday morning, was the direct descendant of the principal, our very own, Leigh Dunn. Leigh has been a staunch member of this VPHS committee for many years.
So this was really an historical occasion of note with Dion and Andre’ Jerling and Leigh Dunn all present and on our committee discussing the future of the Old Timber Shed located opposite the Old Rectory Building in Meeding Street.
Extensive funding for future Timbershed plans will be required. The Plett Historical Society will be working closely with stakeholders, including the Plett Tourism Association, with hopes to see this dream come to fruition. Meanwhile, we are making steady progress with the design and manufacture of new historical plaques to place on our many historical buildings and historical sites in Plettenberg Bay.
Plett Tourism CEO, Patty Butterworth explains: “Preserving historical sites is not enough, we must also constantly upgrade and maintain them to ensure their relevance and accessibility for future generations. There are several historical sites in Bitou that require attention, including but not limited to the Old Timber Shed National Heritage Monument and the Griqua National Heritage Monument.”
Learn more about The Old Timber Shed here.
