Eastern Cape Tourist AttractionsCora Terrace
Where? Donkin Street, Central, Port Elizabeth
Overnight? Stay in Central Hill, in Eastern Cape
Port Elizabeth's most famous terraced houses are the row of double-storey examples in Donkin Street, built between 1860 and 1880. They've been photographed from all possible angles, and given a couple of coats of paint over the years.
As exciting, but less well known, are the series of Settler houses in Castle Hill, and the row of Victorian townhouses known as Cora Terrace, just off Bird Street, built somewhere around 1856 in the Regency style, recognisable by its curved top panes. This row of seven townhouses all face onto the lane built on land given to the city by Henry Watson Henderson in 1831. The courtyards at the rear of Cora Terrace would have traditionally been used to house animals, outhouses and for use by staff.
Number 11 has recently renovated their courtyard space, using the services of The Workplace Architects, who adopted contemporary heritage theory that follows the idea that additions to historic structures should be of their own time, distinguishable from the original architecture.
The series of townhouses are named after Cora, the daughter of Henry Henderson's widow (Henry was to die in the 6th Frontier War in 1834) and her second husband, Joseph Smith. Cora died at sea at the young age of 16 on her return trip from England in 1861.
Houses numbered 1,3,5,7,9 and 11 are all national monuments and function as backpacker lodges and offices. The terrace is but five minutes' from the Donkin Memorial and St Georges Park.
