Prestwich Memorial

Cape Town


Construction in 2003 along nearby Prestwich St unearthed many skeletons. These were the unmarked graves of slaves and others executed by the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries on what was then known as Gallows Hill. The bones were exhumed and this memorial building, with an attractive facade of Robben Island slate, was created. It includes an ossuary and excellent interpretive displays, including a replica of the remarkable 360-degree panorama of Table Bay painted by Robert Gordon in 1778.

There's a branch of the coffee shop Truth in the memorial building.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cape Town attractions

1. Prestwich Memorial Garden

0.03 MILES

Along the Walk of Remembrance (formerly known as the 2010 World Cup's Fan Walk) is this attractive public space dotted with a collection of quirky…

2. Evangelical Lutheran Church

0.1 MILES

Converted from a barn in 1780, the first Lutheran church in the Cape has a carved wood pulpit that's a masterwork by the German sculptor Anton Anreith. A…

3. Youngblood Africa

0.18 MILES

The artworks of young South Africans are displayed in this impressive multilevel gallery space and creative studio, where you'll also find the Food Lab…

4. Heritage Square

0.22 MILES

This beautiful collection of Cape Georgian and Victorian buildings was saved from the wrecking ball in 1996. As well as a hotel and several cafes and…

5. Museum of Gems & Jewellery

0.23 MILES

A chance to see inside the mid-18th century Huguenot House, mainly occupied by the diamond merchants and jewellers Prins & Prins. There's no pressure to…

6. Mythological Landscape

0.24 MILES

This tree-like bronze and corten steel sculpture by John Skotnes is situated in a corner of Thibault Square.

7. Koopmans-de Wet House

0.24 MILES

Step back two centuries from 21st-century Cape Town when you enter this classic example of a Cape Dutch town house, furnished with 18th- and early-19th…

8. SA Mission Museum

0.25 MILES

The South African Missionary Society was founded by Reverend Vos in 1799 with the aim of converting slaves to Christianity. This church, dating from 1804,…