Page 129 - Bulletin 17 2013

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A list of the Municipal Valuations at the time Elizabeth died, in 1909, and showing the many

properties she owned – nearly all in Die Dam – illustrates her property holdings. (Fig. 3.11).

‘Seaview House’ was owned by Robert Fish. After his wife Elizabeth died it was inherited in
1915 by the Cutting children from her first marriage. For many years the building had a boarding

house above and the Periodical Court on the ground floor. In 1910 the Resident Magistrate
complained about the noise from the rooms above interrupting court proceedings, and a drain

where ‘the stench is very bad and dangerous to health.’ Despite a petition signed by the great

and the good who wanted the court to remain in Kalk Bay, the decision was made to move to
premises opposite St. James station. Despite correspondence confirming this, a 1928 Street

Directory shows the Periodical Court still at Kalk Bay.

‘Seaview House’ was next owned by the Stevens family (Elizabeth’s daughter had married Harry

Stevens) and was sold in 1928 to Henry Atkins for £2,000. It was demolished around 1935 and
replaced by ‘Edward Mansions’. (Fig. 3.12.)

Moving further up the road is the house (10 Rosmead Road) and stables bought by Gamdoel

Slamdien in 1915 from the estate of Elizabeth Fish. Slamdien was a cartage contractor born in

Constantia in 1870. The family was prominent in Kalk Bay and for many years he ran his cartage
business from this site, sometimes to the annoyance of his neighbours.

Gamdoel was a skilful horse trader and at the time of the Anglo-Boer War he bought large

numbers of horses at the pound near Witteboom which he sold very profitably to the British

Army. With the profit he was able to go to Mecca and may well have used some of the money to
buy his home in Kalk Bay for £170 in 1915.

The Slamdien House is still there and after a recent fire has been beautifully restored. Fig. 3.13.)

Gamdoel died aged 67 in 1937 and his property was inherited by his seven children. Some of his

daughters had married into the Emandien family (who still live in Kalk Bay.) By this time the
family had moved with the times and operated lorries in their cartage business.