Chavonnes Cannon Battery
(Cape Town)
Overview of the Chavonnes Cannon battery
The Chavonnes Cannon Battery is the oldest major fortification
in Cape Town except for the
Castle of Good Hope. The Chavonnes Cannon Battery was build
in a splay-legged "U" shape, and mounted with 16 great guns which between
them had an arc of fire of nearly 180 degrees.
When the Alfred basin construction began, however, large parts of the cannon battery
was demolished. Later, the rest of the battery disappeared under warehouses and
factories.
In 1999, the Board of Executors had the battery scientifically excavated, and created
a magnificent museum in the basement, preserving this important piece of early Cape
history.
Review of the Chavonnes Cannon Battery
We accidentally stumbled upon the Chavonnes Cannon Battery museum,
while waiting for our Robben Island
tour to depart. What a nice surprise! The curator is a very informed and passionate
man and we spent a while listening to him relate the history of the battery.
The self-guided tour through the museum is very well thought out. The walkways guides
you past the different sections of the old battery and exhibitions. A lot of information
is provided, and we left the battery with a lot of respect for the fortifications
of the Cape.
