Page 72 - Bulletin 22 2019

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But in 1970 the grand pavilion was torn down to much dismay and its site stood vacant for

the next 11 years. What had been unthinkable in 1935 had now happened. Architect WM
Grant (1877 – 1957) was not there to witness the destruction of one of his great buildings. At

about the same time the hotel industry went into decline, Muizenberg entered a downturn and
the over-scaled Cinnabar tower block rose up on the site of the demolished Grand Hotel.

By this time the bathing boxes were over 40 years old. By 1974 storms had reduced the total

from 241 to 205, and by 1977 to 145. (Figs. 2.40 & 2.41.) The new pavilion opened on 12

December 1981. Then on 15 May 1984 a major storm, classified as a one-in-20-year event,
reduced numbers to around 65: 16 on West Beach and 49 on East Beach. Another storm on

13 April 1993 caused further destruction (Fig. 2.42), and by 1996 there were none on West

Beach or Sunrise Beach, but 100 new ones, resembling the traditional ones, had been erected
on East Beach to replace those damaged in the 1993 storm. They were also sited farther back

from the HWM. In 2000 only 50 remained on East Beach.

Today, there are 36 on East Beach in front of the promenade, and on West Beach there are
two groups of 4 on either side of the Chalet. The total number of boxes at Muizenberg is 44

and vandalism and neglect are taking their toll. Local residents and sponsors have stepped in

to repair and restore them. (Figs. 2.43 & 2.44.)

St. James

South of Muizenberg the coastline is predominantly rocky all the way to Clovelly but
interrupted by stretches of sand at St. James, Dalebrook and Kalk Bay that were much wider

before the intrusion of the railway embankments in 1883 and 1927. In contrast to

Muizenberg, this mountain-backed coast was notable for being relatively wind-free during
the south-easters.

From the mid-1880s onwards bathing boxes were erected by private owners, initially with the
permission of the Colonial Dept of Agriculture and later on the KB-M Municipality. In 1886

there was only one box which was owned by John Wesley Wells of Botheration Cottage
(later in 1899 modified and enlarged and known as St. James Hotel.) By 1896 another one

had been added; there were 13 in 1898, and 18 in 1907. This growth was probably propelled
by progressive improvements to the tidal pool between 1897 and 1913 which made bathing