LOCAL civic organisation Save Our Berea (SOB) is calling on the Glenwood community to take ownership of the Meyrick Bennett Park at 191 JB Marks (Chelmsford) Road.
SOB’s Cheryl Johnson said the organisation is concerned about the preservation of the building on the property, Meyrick Bennett House, which has until recently, operated as the Meyrick Bennett Centre, an assessment and therapy centre for children.
She said SOB was approached by one of the trustees of the Meyrick Bennett Centre who raised his concerns for the future of the heritage building and the park surrounding it.
“At present the Centre is without a director or tenant, and although there is interest from the university to hire part of the house, with a proposal being put on the table for discussion with the municipality, the overall financial security of the building looks uncertain. As the Centre is not funded by government or the Department of Health, keeping the Centre going was reliant on the goodwill of the Community Chest, donors and the business community. The Trustees are always looking for volunteers from the community to assist with establishing a fundraising committee and this is what we are hoping to achieve, and more,” said Johnson.
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She said security at the property has been a problem for a while, with many break-ins and vandalism to the historically-significant building having been reported over the past few years.
“We had a look around the house a few weeks ago, and what struck us was how vulnerable and isolated it is sitting at the top of a long driveway in a large secluded and under-used park. It seems a shame that such a charming building and setting is not celebrated more enthusiastically by the public,” she said.
Johnson said the park appeared to have a ‘keeper’ on duty during the day, but no security personnel were in situ at night.
“Two years ago, Glenwood residents led by Peter Bendheim, mounted a campaign to clean up the park and we wondered if we could help resurrect and expand this plan to bring life back to the park and by doing so, also uplift the centre. Funds raised could augment the trust’s costs of upkeep and provide for additional security overall. Residents would need to form a committee to drive this plan with the help of civic organisations, councillors and the relevant city officials. The Director of Parks would also need to support the initiative. Perhaps a mobile coffee shop or a small café would also flourish there,” she said.
She said SOB proposed the Glenwood community try to appropriate cultural events for the park such as acoustic music concerts, children’s theatre and themed picnics that would attract families.
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“The events should be low-key and gentle and the entire neighbourhood could get involved, not only in the preservation of a historically important house, but also in making the park a safe and more desirable leisure destination for both residents and tourists,” she said.
“The Meyrick Bennett Centre and park is slightly different from other public spaces in that it has been bequeathed to the city with conditions, and this appears to have been a stumbling block to it reaching its full potential. We believe that ‘fresh eyes’ could find ways to maximise its potential. We propose the Meyrick Bennett ‘community’, the people who live around the park and who have an understanding of the neighbourhood’s needs and security concerns, should be consulted and brought into a plan to regenerate and preserve this special place,” said Johnson.
History of Meyrick Bennett House
MEYRICK Bennett House at 191 Chelmsford Road was originally built by Meyrick Bennett in 1891.
Bennett arrived in Durban in 1875 and built the verandah house, which was designed by architect Willion Street-Wilson. Bennett worked for merchants Randles Brothers and Hudson.
Street-Wilson also designed Monaltrie (Musgrave Road) known as ‘the Brown house’, Penhurst (Springfield Road), Maris Stella School, St Augustine’s (Netcare), the DLI Drill Hall, St Thomas’s Anglican Church, the Durban Railway Station, CBD department stores Stuttaford’s, Anstey’s and Cuthbert’s (demolished) and the iconic Emmanuel Cathedral.
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The house had verandas on three sides, high up in Glenwood with views over the city. It is described by Brian Kearney in his book ‘Important Buildings and Places in Durban’, as a single storied house of the Victorian period, significant culturally and for elements in the Vernacular style, encaustic tiled floor, roof lantern, verandah and park setting.
A billiard room was added in 1892 and the entrance gates onto Chelmsford Road in 1895.
Bennett left the property to the City of Durban, for the benefit of the children of the City of Durban, and that is why the premises can only be occupied for that purpose. The Centre was always operated as a non-profit operation. The University did for many years use the Centre as its training department for Social Workers, and the director of the Centre was always a senior member of head of department of the Department of Social Work.
The park in which the building is situated, is open to the public. There are not many comparable facilities in the area.
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