Heidelberg Cabinet Makers declared a heritage site
From humble beginnings to Diamante en Goud.
Heidelberg Cabinet Makers has been declared a heritage site.
Tony Burisch of the Heidelberg Heritage Association awarded the latest blue plaque for heritage to the Heidelberg Cabinet Makers on September 2. The plaque is no 57 in the series for heritage status.
The premises is located at 40 Begeman Street, Heidelberg.
As per the historical book “Die Geskiedenis van Heidelberg”, stand no 64 initially belonged to Jeremias Frederik Ziervogel and then Mr Bronkhorst.
It is believed that according to records the first owner Ziervogel was a medical doctor in the area at one time. Dr Ziervogel got married to Susanna Hartley Smith Cawood. They had seven children together.
According to records, the Bronkhorsts had a farm in the area and most likely the same family owned the property on Begeman Street.
Fanie Bronkhorst died at the battle at Modderbult on December 24, 1900. His brother Jacobus died in Ladysmith on January 3, 1900. Both brothers are buried in the Heidelberg Kloof cemetery.
The workshop at the back of the premises was built in about 1935/1936 for Francis C Maude. The owner of Attjanbell Cabinet Works. Flushing toilets, a battery room as well as a smoke room were added in 1941. The building in front was built in 1950.
Christo and Melinda van der Merwe, who established the Diamante en Goud Shop in Heidelberg in 1980, renovated and moved into the premises in 1992. The van der Merwe’s have been Heidelberg residents for 43 years.
