(FLTR: The Clock Tower, Library Square, Eden Grove,
Rhodes Chapel, Mother Cecile Memorial Hall)
A little bit of
history
Rhodes University was built on the site of a
nineteenth century military base. Today the Drostdy Gate is the
main pedestrian entrance to campus, but it once housed military
guards. The lawns between the gate and the clock tower (WP1) were
the parade ground for British troops.
During the 1890s there was a strong feeling that
Grahamstown needed a university college. The Anglo-Boer War put
paid to earlier plans, but immediately after the war the campaign
was taken up again in earnest. Dr Leander Starr Jameson, a Trustee
of the Cecil John Rhodes Estate, promised a generous £50,000.
The legendary and internationally renowned
architect, Herbert Baker, offered his services but it was decided
to hold a national competition. Baker and his partner, Kendall,
were undeterred: they entered and won the competition.
The original buildings are not exactly as designed
because the budget did not stretch to cover the extensive stonework
specified by the architects, but the resulting structures are a
pleasing mixture of stone and plaster, built around a system of
quadrangles. The Baker influence is unmistakable.
Baker's plans for the campus to be built in a
series of phases made provision for the set of quadrangles linked
by arched walkways that extended the formal layout of the campus
along a straight line through the Drostdy Gate and down High Street
towards the Cathedral. Despite the growth of the University over
the years, this has probably remained the most attractive complex
of buildings on campus and is what most Old Rhodians remember of
their student days. Here one can see the master architect at work:
his love of arches, natural building materials and classical design
principles.
WP1: Find the name "Dirk
Baker" and the associated set of dates "196A - 1970".
The Clock Tower Building
Stroll through the imposing front doors of the
clock tower building (erected in 1937) that lead to the first
quadrangle with its arched cloisters that provide shelter from the
sun and rain. Notice the shutters on the windows around this
quadrangle. All the windows in subsequent buildings would have been
shuttered too, had it not been for the cost.
The fountain with its shoal of large khoi fish is
dedicated to the memory of Professor Hugh (Chappie) Chapman.
Appointed in 1955, he was South Africa's first ever Dean of
Students. In 2002 and additional plaque honouring his wife, Jean,
was unveiled by their daughter.
WP2: The fountain consists of
a number of "bowls" (not counting the khoi pond itself). B is the
number of such bowls. (Note: if the
doors between WP1 and WP2 are locked, you can walk around the
building and access WP2 from the rear, via the listed waypoint
"Viapoint 1".)
As you leave the first quad, notice the roundels on
the western wall. Those to the right depict the Chancellors of
Rhodes University, the first of which was Sir Basil Schönland, a
botanist who helped persuade the Rhodes Trustees to honour
Jameson's promise of funds. The roundels to your left depict the
Masters of Rhodes University College and the Vice-Chancellors of
the University.
In the second quad, the first structure on the left
was the first academic building to be erected on campus - it
originally housed the Department of Chemistry but is now home to
the Department of Economics. On the right is the department of
Physics. In the northwest corner, the capacious General Lecture
Theatre was built to cater for the influx of students following the
end of World War II.
WP3: There is a plaque on one
wall of the Department of Economics, and it ends with a Roman
numeral. Convert this numeral to Arabic numbers. C is then the
(positive) difference between the second and third
digits.
Continue up the wide flight of steps into the third
quad, popularly known as Library Square because of the dominant
building on its western side (in front of you). The library is a
bustling hub of campus life with students coming and going like
bees in a hive, others lingering to chat in the shade of the grove
of stinkwood trees that create an oasis of coolness in the
summer.
You'll find the Department of Geography in the
south-eastern corner of the quad and the building opposite houses
the Centre of Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning
(CHERTL). CHERTL is a quality assurance unit, helping academic
staff to maintain a high standard of teaching excellence that is a
cornerstone of university policy.
Although one of South Africa's smallest
universities, Rhodes boasts a wide range of faculties. The only
major disciplines not available here are engineering and medicine.
A tutorial system similar to the Oxford/Cambridge system offers
students interactive small-group classes that allow individual
attention. Even undergraduates get to know their lecturers
personally at Rhodes.
WP4: To your left you will
find an academic department. D is the number of letters in the
department's name.
Rhodes Residences
Continue your walk by taking the path that leads up
past the left hand side of the library (Viapoint 1). This will lead
you to University Road with the Department of Psychology on the
left and then the start of the residences.
The "res" system is an integral part of student
life at Rhodes, as most students spend at least one year in
residence. Some move off into "digs" in town, but others opt to
remain in the safe and convenient res environment. To cater for
senior students, there are several postgraduate residences on
campus and the Gavin Relly Postgraduate Village up on the hill near
the Settlers National Monument.
The major building on the left of University Road
comprise Oriel Hall and provide a good example of how the residence
system works. There are three houses of residence in this hall:
Beit, Jameson and Oriel, all of which you can see on your left hand
side as you walk to WP5. Beit house accommodates about 80 students,
the other two just over 60 each. Each residence has its own common
room but all the students from the three houses eat together in
Oriel Dining Hall, the third building on the left.
WP5: Between the words
"Oriel" and "House" there are some ladies depicted. E is the number
of ladies.
It is a short walk up University Road to the
T-junction with Rhodes avenue. The building directly in front of
you houses the Campus Protection Unit. Staffed by 28 personnel
supplemented by additional patrol guards from a local security
company, the unit runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing
protection for students, staff, their property and the University's
property. Pause here a moment to admire several splendid old
indigenous forest trees, a few specimens of which have grown to
gigantic size in the benevolent ambiance of campus.
WP6: Here you will find
"Rhodes University P_____ _____". F is the number of letters
in the final (fourth) word.
Turn right and go to WP7, where you will find two
more residences.
WP7: Opposite Atherstone
House you will find ____ House. G is the number of letters in the
missing word.
Upper Campus
Walk to WP8 via the bridge at Viapoint 2. On your
left you will pass the University's transport division as well as a
car hire facility. If you take a sharp left after the bridge, you
will head towards Hamilton dam, a reservoir built to alleviate
Grahamstown's water shortage, and a small quarry. Instead, head up
the short flight of steps straight towards WP8, where you will find
another academic department.
WP8: H is the number of
letters in the final word in the name of the department.
Across the parking lot you will find the Department
of Journalism and Media Studies. State of the art electronic
newsrooms equip students with critical and practical skills in
print and digital media, including television and radio. Pause here
to catch up on the latest news headlines that scroll in large red
letters across the front of the department.
WP9: I is the number of
letters in the middle (second) word on the front of the
building.
Across from the Department of Journalism, you'll find the Nelson
Mandela Hall residence and its grand water feature with large rocks
and bold plants. Occupying the high grounds at the top of the road,
with marvellous views of the campus and the city beyond, Kimberley
Hall has grown so large it has been divided into Kimberley 1 and
2.
WP10: On the way to Kimberley Hall, you
will pass several other residences. How many Halls can be found at
this particular spot, according to the sign? This number is
J.
Head up to Kimberley Hall by turning left at Viapoint 3. From
here one used to be able to get an idea of the extent of Rhodes
sports field which radiate from the Sports Union and the Department
of Human Ergonomics and Kinetics, but recent development has
somewhat spoilt the views. Almost every sporting code is catered
for here and a fully equipped gymnasium keeps members of the Rhodes
family on their toes. Happy sounds waft across town on summer
evenings from the floodlit playing fields. Stroll around the top of
the hill, getting glimpses of the campus and town, and at the
eastern side of the hill, a splendid view over Hamilton Dam.
WP11: Here you will find the Hugh Chapman
Dining Hall, its name printed in large letters above the door. Two
words, in smaller lettering, are printed above. K is the number of
letters in the first of the smaller words.
Lower Campus
Coming down the hill again, you will pass the Jamaat Khana
Muslim Prayer room on your left (just after the Nelson Mandela
Dining Hall) as well as the Students' Centre, followed by the
headquarters of the Grounds and Gardens division on the corner of
Prince Alfred Street and South Street. The building houses the
staff members responsible for designing, landscaping and
maintaining the wonderful gardens on campus. They have also
graciously given permission for the placement of this particular
geocache, so here's a salute to them.
Across the road is the Steve Biko Student Union where you'll
find the offices of the Counselling Centre as well as a myriad of
clubs and societies, and the main cafeteria, the Oppidan Dining
Hall. The swimming pool acts as a magnet during the hot summer
months. Immediately next door is the Great Hall, no longer large
enough for representative gatherings of the campus family. It is
nonetheless frequently used for recreation, as a show venue during
the National Arts Festival and as an exam hall.
WP12: In front of the Great Hall you will
find a statue in memory of those whose lives were lost during the
two World Wars. On the side of the statue's foot, you'll find an
imprinted date 192L.
Selwyn Castle, the battlemented Victorian mansion in the Gothic
Revival style, once the official residence of the Lieutenant
General of the Eastern Cape, Sir Andries Stockenstrom, now houses
an academic department.
WP13: M is the numeric value of the first
letter of this department's name (next to the Photographic
Society). (A=1, B=2, etc)
Philosophy is based in a charming Victorian cottage and the
imposing red brick Victorian mansion at WP14, which was once a
police station, is now occupied by political studies. This building
is a fine example of the work of William White-Cooper, a nineteenth
century architect who is famous for designing many red-brick
buildings in the Gothic Revival Style in Grahamstown. These are
some of many atmospheric old buildings bought, restored and adapted
by the university for academic purposes.
WP14: N is the number of languages in
which the Department of Political and International Studies is
displayed.
The Department of Drama occupies a complex strategically placed
on the corner of Somerset Street. There is a large, fully-equipped
theatre with raked seating and a second "box" theatre for more
intimate experimental work.
Walk up Somerset Street towards the Drostdy Arch, passing the
Rhodes Business School on your right, as well as the Fine Arts
Building with its classic porticoed front.
Drostdy Arch
Drostdy Arch (or Drostdy Gate) is the main pedestrian entrance
to the campus. Enjoy the dramatic relationship between the campus
entrance and the town as you look down High Street to the grand old
Cathedral Spire.
WP15: P is the number of small barred
windows visible on the Arch from this point.
Pass through the Drostdy Arch and head left past the Albany
Museum, which houses one of South Africa's three Egyptian
Mummies.
WP16: "Based on the representation of ____
in flight." Q is the number of letters in the missing
word.
Continue up the path towards Viapoint 4. On the way there you
will pass the strikingly modern Eden Grove Centre. Completed in
1999, Eden Grove's two state of the art lecture theatres and four
seminar rooms offer modern teaching and conference facilities.
Architecturally the building is modern, light and spacious which
reflects the University's faith in the future, while also making
interesting linkages to the older buildings through the use of
colour, materials and form. The imposing building also houses the
Student Bureau, the Career Centre, the Cory Library for Historical
Research, the Registrar's Division and the 90-station computer
laboratory open to students 24 hours a day during term. This is one
of several such labs on campus.
St Peter's Campus
Beyond Eden Grove lies St Peter's Campus, originally owned by
the Community of the Resurrection of our Lord, and bought by the
University when the Grahamstown Training College closed in the
early 1970s.
The Department of Law, Education and Music can be found on St
Peter's Campus, along with the Gold Fields Centre for English and
men's and women's residences. Relax for a while on the inviting
lawns and imagine the days when these gracious buildings were home
to orphaned children and later to scores of young women training to
become teachers.
An integral part of the fabric of Rhodes University life is the
Rhodes Chapel, the Chapel of St Mary and All the Angels. Originally
a High-Church Anglican Chapel, it was designed by Herbert Baker's
partner, Kendall, in 1913 and has been declared a national
monument. When the University took it over in the mid-1970s the
chapel was opened to all Christian denominations and now offers a
popular music venue during the National Arts Festival thanks to
perfect acoustics. Inside the Chapel, your eye is irresistibly
drawn to the extraordinary fresco in the apse depicting St Mary and
the Christ child and a number of angels. This was painted by Sister
Margaret, one of the sisters of the Community of the Resurrection
of our Lord.
WP17: R is the number of pillars at the
entrance of the Rhodes Chapel.
Opposite the Chapel, facing Somerset Street, lies the Department
of Music and Musicology, which enjoys a close working relationship
with Grahamstown's world-renowned International Library of African
Music. To the left of the Chapel (behind it when viewed from WP17)
is the building known as Lincoln's Inn because it houses the Law
Faculty. The Department of Education occupies the corner beyond
Law.
Continuing along the little footpath to the south, one reaches
the Mother Cecile Memorial Hall (part of the Alan Webb Hall),
undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings on campus. With is
mullioned windows, hand-crafted beams and pillars and medieval
atmosphere it provides a venue for many a memorable formal hall
dinner and ball. The Hall was designed by Herbert Baker himself,
and was his reason for visiting Grahamstown, before Rhodes was
founded. Had Baker not visited and become involved with the
fledgling University College, who knows what the campus would have
looked like today?
Once you have finished admiring the inside of the Mother Cecile
Memorial Hall, head back over the little bridge to the Nuns'
Chapel, found at WP18, hidden away between St. Peter's Building and
Salisbury House. Duck inside for a few moments to appreciate the
intricate stone work and stained-glass windows.
WP18: S is the number of colours used in
each of the smaller windows near the
entrance.
Have a seat inside the chapel to calculate the final coordinates
for the cache. You can find the cache at
S 33° 1T.UVW E 026° 31.XYZ, where
T = C
U = A+C-B
V = G-H+J
W = K-I |
X = (F+N)/L
Y = S+R-E
Z = P+Q-D |
Once you have the correct coordinates, you may be tempted to
head straight towards them, but that will just bring frustration.
Instead, head towards Viapoint 6 where you will find an entrance to
the majestic Botanical Gardens, where the final cache is
hidden.
The Botanical Gardens is a popular spot for students and people
walking dogs, especially over weekends and late afternoons. The
cache is hidden fairly out of view, but if you choose to find the
cache during busy times, please make sure you don't attract
attention. Also, if you're not the tallest person in the world, I
would suggest taking a tall caching buddy along with you, otherwise
you might have some trouble retrieving the cache. Lastly, watch
your step at the cache location, or else you might end up going for
an unintended splash!
Inside the cache there are several copies of the "Walkbout Rhodes"
pamphlet with a photographic map of campus. Feel free to take one
(no trade required).
Visit the South
African Geocaching Forums and connect with geocachers in your
area!
Awards
Gold: iNokia
Silver: Tara and John
Bronze: --------
Tin: --------