Page 100 - Bulletin 23- 2020

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The last house built on Ladan Road 1930

The last top left plot, erf 89947, 9 Ladan Road, was bought by Emma Mathilda Kleinschmidt in
1897. She owned several properties in the Windsor Road area, including where the Olympia

building now stands. In 1920 erf 89947 was sold to the Rev TE Marsh and in 1929 it was bought
by Ernest Henry Wright. (Fig. 3.34).

The Wright family was of the type the Empire was built on. He was a third generation

shipwright, having followed his father out from Sheerness in Kent to the dockyard at Simon’s

Town.

He married Agnes Agnew in about 1914 at the Methodist Chapel in Simon’s Town. (Fig. 3.35).

The Agnews were Northern Irish and Agnes’ father Andrew had a long and substantial
connection with the fishing business in Kalk Bay – he was owner of Kalk Bay Fisheries Ltd.

(Edwards 1919). He was also owner of the flats Killowen (now Springtide) and the neighbouring

house Fintimara on the Main Road.

Ernest’s father knew the Reverend Marsh well and it was through this connection that the couple
was able to buy the plot in Ladan Road. In 1930 Ernest had plans by architects JA & LI Smith

passed for this neat three-bedroom house. (Fig. 3.36). It was the last house built in Ladan Road.

Building cost was £1,250 and work was completed in a matter of months. The house was named

Kent in recognition of the family’s roots in England. (Fig. 3.37).

With the start of WWII Simon’s Town became a hive of activity with more and more severely

damaged ships arriving in urgent need of repair. The stress on the shipwrights, among others,
was enormous. Selfless dedication to one’s role and to the war effort was the order of the day. In

Ernest’s case he started to suffer from angina and on medical advice the family moved to
Simon’s Town for the remainder of the war.

Ernest died aged 70 in 1956 at his home in Ladan Road. He had a hand-written will drawn up in

1919 and all his assets were left to his wife Agnes. For the purposes of his will the house Kent
was valued at £2,200. He also owned two cottages in Simon’s Town and these were valued at

£2,600.