Glimpse into naval history at Admiralty House. This building has stood since at least 1740. It has seen significant alterations especially after a storm in 1853.
Admiralty House has a rich history. Antoni Visser received the first land grant in Simon’s Town in 1743. But the original building dates back to the late 1720s. The building was enlarged and used as a lodging house.
The Royal Navy took ownership in 1814. It became the home of the Commander in Chief of the South Atlantic Station. The South African Navy took over in 1957. It remained the home of the Chief of the Navy until 1977. Naval Headquarters then moved to Pretoria. The property was renamed Admirals House in 1957.
King George VI planted the yellowwood tree to the right of the cannons in 1947. It was during the Royal Visit to South Africa. Lady Joy Packer saved the huge pepper tree across the road. She was an author and wife of Sir Herbert Packer. He was the only full Admiral to live in Admiralty House. She wrote “Apes and Ivory” in the sunroom. It was on the north-east corner of the house. The cannons in the garden are Portuguese from the 1600s. They came via India and Zanzibar. The figurehead is a copy from HMS Flora.
Rudyard Kipling visited Admiralty House. He noted that the Admiral kept turtles tied to the jetty. They swam in the sea until they were ready for soup. During the American Civil War, the captain of the Confederate raider Alabama visited. This inspired Daar Kom Die Alabama. It is a well-known song sung by Cape Town’s Muslim community.
H.M Stanley called in on his way to find Livingstone. Captain Scott also visited on his way to the Antarctic. The Royal Family attended a garden party here in 1947.
Some say that the same “grey Lady” haunts Admiralty House. She also haunts the Residency and another naval residence Ibeka. The three buildings are supposedly linked by tunnels.
In the nineteen fifties, Lady Campbell saw ghosts on the stairs. She was the wife of Vice-Admiral Sir Ian Campbell. In the nineteen seventies, Mrs. Johnson experienced weird happenings. She was the wife of Vice-Admiral J.V.Johnson. An invisible gentleman opened a door for her and closed it behind her.
The top left-hand window is a fake. Admiralty House recently underwent extensive restoration. Admiralty House is the oldest building in town. Antoni Visser loaned the property on 12 July 1724. The Admiralty purchased it on 22 April 1814. It became the official residence of the Royal Navy Commander-in-Chief until 1957. The Chief of the Navy moved in when the SA Navy took over the naval base.
Lord John Churchill built Admirals’ Pier in 1827 or 1828. He was the Captain of HMS Tweed. He was housed in Admiralty House. It was in the absence of the C-in-C.
Today, Admiralty House stands as a reminder of Simon’s Town’s naval past. It connects us to the stories of admirals, authors and even royal visitors. Take a moment to appreciate the history within these walls. It is a story etched in stone and surrounded by ancient trees.