Page 82 - Bulletin 23- 2020

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the Flats, hearing the sobbing, had come to comfort her and offer help and
encouragement. That was Peggy’s introduction to what she came to regard as a very
special community and where she soon found a place.

The left hand side of Ladan Road

Starting at number 1 Ladan Road (erf 89942), Theresa’s Flats, records show that from 1900 the
lot passed through the hands of four owners in the space of 13 years as speculative buyers moved

into Kalk Bay, buying and selling as they went. In 1913 Ethel Arderne sold to William Porter

Sprigg. (Figs. 3.14 & 3.15).

William Porter Sprigg was one of several distinguished Capetonians who were speculating in

Kalk Bay and St. James’ properties at this time. He was an accountant and property broker, the
son of the four times Prime Minister of the Cape, Sir John Gordon Sprigg. The firm of Sprigg &

Abbott was founded in 1897 and still trades today as auditors Sprigg Abbot. The company was

involved in several matters in Kalk Bay, giving advice to the fishing community, winding up the
Harris estates, and dealing with the Auret liquidation. In 1913, the Who’s Who records that

Sprigg, appointed as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (his father), accompanied him to
London for the Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and the Coronation of the King in 1902.

He was also a man of service, involved with the local community and among other things was a

churchwarden at Holy Trinity. He was also Captain and second-in-command of the Colonial
Light Horse during the Anglo Boer War.

Sprigg rented Roslin Villa in Harris Road for some years and later bought Peelton, 31 Gatesville

Road, from John Delbridge in 1912. He married Maynie (Binford) Eyre in 1902 and the couple

lived in Kalk Bay for a few years. Maynie was a talented artist and we have her to thank for this
beautiful painting of Bishop’s Bath. (Fig. 3.16).

It was also known as The Bishop’s Pool, so-named because it was a favourite bathing place of
Bishop Gray when he holidayed at Kalk Bay in the 1860s. It was a natural pool among the rocks,

opposite the beach exit of the present Kalk Bay station subway. In 1913 the area was excavated,

rocks were removed, and walls were built to enclose the long pool that exists there today.