Pietermaritzburg - Capital of the Zulu Kingdom

Pietermaritzburg City Hall

zoom Pietermaritzburg City Hall Photo: Gerald Hoberman

The Pietermaritzburg City Hall is one of the City's most well-loved landmarks. It stands on the corner of Commercial Road and Church Street in Victorian splendour, as a constant reminder to visitors and residents alike of a long-gone era. It is regarded as the largest all- brick building in the Southern Hemisphere.

History

The original City Hall was built in 1893 on the site of the old Voortrekker Raddsaal (meeting hall) in the Free Renaissance style by architects Street-Wilson and Barr. It was a modest two- storey building which, on July 12, 1898, was destroyed by fire.

In 1902 the City Hall was rebuilt. Like the phoenix of ancient Egyptian mythology symbolising immortality (featured on the southern fa ade of the building facing the City Hall carpark) the City Hall also rose from the ashes to start another long life.

What was built was a more elaborate three storey version of the original design. The Brindley and Foster pipe organ was replaced as were the impressive stained glass windows, pressed ceilings, porticos, gables and finials.

The City Hall was officially opened on August 14, 1902 by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, later to be King George V and Queen Mary.

In 1969 the City Hall was declared a National Monument, ensuring that this most valuable link to our history is maintained for the benefit of future generations.

(Natal Witness, 16 July 1898) '...clouds of smoke wafted skywards as the crumbling timbers gave way. As the fire reached the interior of the main hall, it first caught the wooden framework of the grand organ, and the spectacular effect as the stately organ pipes reaching to the domes were bathed in vari-coloured tongues of flame was particularly striking Then was heard the cracking of the bells, and dull booms which signalised the fall of those ponderous masses.'

A well-known face

The City Hall clock, situated in the 47-metre high clock- tower, has become a loyal friend to Pietermaritzburg residents having kept the City on time for many decades.

Described as a Westminster quarter chime tower clock, it weighs 100 kilograms and its pendulum beats once every two seconds. The time is shown on four cast iron dials each three metres in diameter and glazed with opal glass. The carillon, similar to the mechanism of a music box, plays a number of tunes, but these days its function is to sound the quarter hour.

It has withstood generations of pigeons, a golf ball driven into his face and even a bomb blast.

The pipe organ

The City Hall organ is one of the largest pipe organs in the Southern Hemisphere. It has 3806 pipes ranging in size from 11 metres down to the thickness of a knitting needle.

Originally pneumatic, its mechanism was changed to electro-pneumatic when it was rebuilt in 1974. Its console is detached and can be moved anywhere on the stage. It was built by Brindley and Foster, world- renowned organ builders, in Sheffield, U.K.

(Source: Pietermaritzburg City Hall Tourist Leaflet)

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