Coornhoop Dovecot, Dixton Road, Mowbray

In 1657-58 land in this area was granted to 14 free burghers, who were expected to devote themselves to the planting of wheat for the new settlement. Their defence needs were met by the construction of a small fortification built for their benefit, known as Fort Coornhoop. This was abandoned as early as 1661, and on 2 March 1664 the farm was granted to M Coninck, who the following year, sold it to Thielman Hendricx, who was murdered in 1673. After that the farm changed hands frequently, eventually coming into the possession of Servaas van Breda in 1797. By this stage an H-plan farmhouse as well as a dovecot and adjoining wine cellars had already been built. It is probably that under van Breda several gables were added to the buildings, making the farmhouse one of the finest in the Cape. By the time the property was purchased by the Simon van der Stel Foundation in 1961, only the dovecot was left standing and much of the complex had been demolished. 

Today the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa's offices are located at the Coornhoop complex, comprising a total of 663 square metres.