Draft:White Gables

• Comment: Needs wider mentions; all but one of the citations are from the same site Mattdaviesfsic (talk) 12:36, 25 December 2023 (UTC)

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White Gables

The prestigious homestead, also known as Kowie House until 1913, is demarcated as a National Monument based on the Historical and Architectural Interest.

It is one of three National Monuments in Port Alfred, which includes the Port Alfred Railway Station , and the Settlers Methodist Church.

History

In early 1823, Captain Thomas Cowderoy of the 21st Light Dragoons arrived in Cape Town with his 23-year-old wife, Selina. In 1821, a decision was made to establish a harbor at the Kowie River mouth, and Cowderoy was appointed as the first customs officer of Port Kowie (later known as Port Francis, and then Port Alfred) in April 1823. In June of the same year, he was also appointed as the postmaster, and he moved to Port Kowie to operate from the customs house, which was still under construction.

Both the customs house and the harbor master's house were built near each other on the East side of the Kowie river mouth, close to the beach. In March 1824, Cowderoy's family joined him, arriving on the ship "Locust," which had been the first vessel to enter the Kowie river in 1821. They resided on the South side of High Street on the East Bank until 1832 when the customs officer position was abolished.

In June 1824, Thomas and Selina had a son, William, who passed away three years later. In May 1827, a daughter named Marianne was born, and in August 1839, a son named George was born. They had three other children, including one named Frederick.

In July 1833, Cowderoy was granted land and began building Kowie House, completed in 1834. During the sixth frontier war (1834 to 1835), Kowie House served as a temporary military barracks for non-commissioned officers. By 1835, Port Francis (later known as Port Alfred) had deteriorated, with many buildings burned down, but Kowie House remained untouched. The harbor master's house and customs house were abandoned, and Cowderoy faced difficulties with the harbor mouth.

Cowderoy returned to active military service and served with the Provincial Colonial Infantry (PCI). In 1835, he was mentioned in dispatches for his role in the assault on Buffalo Heights. He continued his military duty until the seventh frontier war (1846 to 1847) and was appointed Captain of the first battalion at some point.

In July 1844, Cowderoy's wife Selina died at the age of 44 under unknown circumstances, leaving behind her husband and five children. She was buried in the Settler's Church graveyard, and her headstone inscription, though difficult to read, is still legible.

In October 1845, Kowie House was put up for sale as Cowderoy was frequently away on active service. In November 1845, it was purchased by Thomas Berrington, who turned it into the Berrington Inn. Berrington sold the house in the early 1850s, and historical records of Kowie House and the Cowderoy family are scarce during that period.

Little is known about Thomas Cowderoy and his family, but accounts describe him as neither outgoing nor a socialite, but rather a modest and caring person. Isaac Dyason, a post holder who occasionally stayed with Cowderoy in 1824, described him as somewhat eccentric but experienced great kindness and hospitality from him.

At some point, Kowie House was renamed, known as White Gables in 1913 when the residence was occupied by the bank manager of Barclays Bank.

Construction

White Gables, formerly Kowie House, is located at 15 Park Road on the East Bank of Port Alfred. Built around 1833 by Captain Thomas Cowdery, it is one of three National Monuments in the town and the only privately owned residence with this heritage status. The other National Monuments, the railway station and Wesleyan Settlers Church, are also on the East Bank.

The house follows a classic "U-Plan" design, common in the architecture of its time, with Georgian-style triangular gables at both ends. The crossed-steel tension tie-bar anchor is a key marker, straddling the gable vent on the west wing. Covering about 210 square meters, the house has eight interconnected rooms.

The outer walls of the gable sections are made of stone from local quarries active during the house's construction. The other walls use unbaked clay bricks in a Flemish bond bricklaying technique with lime mortar. The entire house, inside and out, is finished with lime plaster.

Key features like the doors, windows, architraves, fireplace surrounds, and other timber finishes are made from Baltic Deal, a pine wood imported from Europe as ballast on ships visiting Port Alfred. Some floors are Baltic Deal, while others are yellow wood, likely sourced locally from the Amathola district near King William's Town. The original roof, constructed with Welsh slate, was also imported as ballast.

White Gables, with its simple yet sturdy construction and historical materials, reflects the architectural style and resource choices of its time.

White Gables, 15 Park Road, Port Alfred

Renovations

During the work done, the original segmental arches over the sash windows was replaced with flat arches.

Declaration of National Heritage Site

On 15 March 1985, a National Monuments Council Notice of Declaration (No. 538) was published in Gazette No. 9620, after a Report for National Monuments Council was submitted in January 1984, awarding Archive Status of National Monument, as a Provincial Heritage Site (Grade II).

Declaration and Legal Demarcation
"By virtue of the powers vested in me by Section 10 (1) of the War Graves and National Monuments Act, 1969 (Act 28 of 1969), I, Pierre Cronje, Deputy Minister of National Education, hereby declare the house known as White Gables, situated at 15 Park Road, Port Alfred, together with the land in front of the building bordered by Park Road and three metres of land around the other three sides, as well as the servants' rooms at the rear of the house, to be a National Monument."

Description
"White Gables house, including of the servants' rooms, as well as the land in front of the house stretching to Park Road and three metres of land around the other three sides, situated on the certain piece of freehold land in the Municipality of Port Alfred in the Division of Bathurst, being the Remainder of Erf 825, Port Alfred, in extent two thousand and sixty-one (2 061) square metres."

Historical and Architectural Interest
"This early Victorian dwelling-house with its two impressive triangular front gables dates from the 1830s and was erected by Captain Thomas Cowedroy. The two murals in the billiard room are also noteworthy."

William Martinson, 2016 - Photo of National Monument Council Badge and Plaque, White Gables, 15 Park Road, Port Alfred

History of ownership

Start Date	End Date	Owner(s)
July 1833	November 1845	Thomas Cowderoy
November 1845	Early 1850's	Thomas Berrington
Early 1850's	July 1859	Unknown
July 1859	December 1865	William Finn
December 1865	November 1898	John E. Wood
November 1898	February 1921	R.H. Schultze
February 1921	July 1941	Ernest M. Ridden
July 1941	November 1955	Elizabeth S. Dunlop
November 1955	August 1956	Rhodesian Children's Home
August 1956	July 1964	Cynthia E. Kinkead-Weeks
July 1964	May 1982	Gerald E. Neale-May
May 1982	October 1995	Robert E. Neale-May and Nicolette E. Neale-May (Grandchildren)
October 1995	Jan 2020	Terrence Anthony Billing, and Joy Billing
Jan 2020	Present	Frances King, and Jarryd Michael King