PE : City Hall & Market Square

After visiting the Library we crossed the street to reach Market Square.  It was a bit of a disappointment as this square is used as parking space for cars.  A sign on the paving in the square shows that is was declared a National Heritage Site in 1974.

Market Square used to be central point for buying and selling of goods and was also used as a social gathering place for locals.  In the square there is a replica of the cross that Bartholomew Dias placed along the coast of Africa on his journey in 1488. 

The neo-Classical City Hall was built between 1858 and 1862.  The porch was added in 1865 and the clock tower in 1883.  The building was damaged by a fire in 1977 and was reconstructed and opened in 1981.  It was declared a National Heritage Site on 7 December 1973.   

Public toilets in the PE are scarce and not always clean.  I asked if I could use the bathroom inside the Town Hall and the staff had no problem letting me inside.  Compared to the beautiful outside of the building the inside was quite ordinary. 
Location: 9 Baakens St, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa

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