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Museum News
Article and photos by Lt Cdr L. Steyn, Curator
SA Naval Museum
Enquiries: 021 787 4697 |
The South
African Naval Museum is currently receiving some much
needed “tender loving care”. The Renovation and
Maintenance Project, which covers so many naval
buildings in Simon’s Town, finally reached the historic
Mast House and Sail Loft in the East Yard where the
Naval Museum is housed. Renovation and maintenance of
the old building’s roof and gutters started in October
and work on the cleaning and painting of walls and
windows are progressing well. Even through all this
industrial commotion, the museum has remained opened to
the public, averaging about 1200 visitors per month.
With the June/July holiday at hand and in anticipation
of the many “foreign” visitors, frequenting the southern
peninsula, the museum’s spanking-new appearance will go
along way to boost the image of the SA Navy in a
positive manner.
Museum renovations Nov 2011
Short history of the Mast House and Sail Loft
When Great
Britain occupied the Cape of Good Hope for the second
time in January 1806, the Royal Navy’s principal base
was established at Cape Town. The ships anchored in
Table Bay but almost always followed the Dutch practice
of seeking shelter in Simon’s Bay during the stormy
winter months. It was also possible to careen ships in
safety on the beach there and these advantages led to
the removal of the naval shore established from Cape
Town to Simon’s Town in 1814. In addition to the Dutch
storehouse (still in use), the Royal Navy required a
mast house 120 feet long, 24 feet broad, with sail lofts
and sail store room. This building, known as the Mast
House and Sail Loft was completed in 1815.
Today the SA
Naval Museum collection, formerly displayed in the
Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town and at the Martello
Tower in Simon’s Town, is housed in this historic
building. The museum was officially opened on 1 April
1993 by the then Chief of the SA Navy, V Adm R.C.
Simpson-Anderson.
Museum visitor stats 2012
Museum hours during June/July holidays
The museum is open seven
days a week from 09:30 to 15:30.
Contact us at 021 787 4686 for more information.
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