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From: "Becky Horne" <>
Subject: [ZA] East Cape Newspapers, July 1965 - HARPER, Part I
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 21:19:06 +0200


Hi there

Newspaper cuttings from the Eastern Cape.
No source, July 1965.

I notice that the Grahamstown City Council is trying to persuade the Union Castle Company to name one of its ships 'Grahamstown Castle' I wonder if 'HARPER's Castle' would be even better. This is the story of HARPER's Castle, a fantastic creation which would have done credit to Heath ROBINSON.

Perhaps HARPER's Castle, or its like, could never have existed anywhere but at Grahamstown. It was one of the wonders of the city more than a century ago, and although for years the inhabitants considered it a public nuisance and continually complained about it, the Board of Commissioners did not, or could not, do anything about it.

The 'Castle' stood next to a Mr. T. COCKCROFT's wagon-makers shop in Bathurst Street, next to the bridge. HARPER had persuaded his brother to lend him the plot of land for the purpose of erecting a building and engaging in trade. So with all the bits of junk he could collect, he threw up a shack of sorts and started work as a cooper. But that was only the beginning.

HARPER was also a great frequenter of the sales held in the town, and here and there, at bargain prices, he picked up articles which were to form the foundation for his next venture, that of a second-hand dealer. He was too, always on the look-out for something for nothing, and this included all the stones dropped in the street in front of his shop from passing transport wagons. By these means he was able to lay the foundation for the building which became known as 'HARPER's Castle'

At first the Grahamstonians poked fun at old HARPER, but their astonishment increased as the building grew. Slowly the walls reached window level and when they rose to a height above the doors, the people, believing HARPER's work was done and that all was to come was the roof, ceased to take any interest in the place.

Then much to the bewilderment of everyone, HARPER went on. This time when he had completed the second storey, the residents waited apprehensively, fearing that the man was out of his mind and was about to add a third storey - perhaps even a forth. However, he had had enough of it, and added only the roof.

To be continued.


Best wishes
Becky
Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Researching: HENWICK; HILL; HORN(E); MEREDITH; DEYZEL; LARSEN; WILLSON; LYNAR; HENNING; STERLEY; THECK; BEST; BRAUN, GREENER; GLANVILLE

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