De Kat Balcony

In 1685 van Rheede ordered a wall to be built across the courtyard, this wall was 116 meters long and 12 meters high. This divided the castle into two, the fore court and the rear court. The rear court contained the barracks, cellars, kitchens, stores and workshops. The fore court contained the offices and residences.
 

Some famous prisoners incarcerated in the Castle over the centuries include rebel burghers Adam Tas and Van der Linden (who had incurred the wrath of Governor W A van der Stel for opposing his autocratic rule).  Lady Ann Barnard, a liberated woman before her time known for being an intrepid explorer and famous for her love of bathing, also resided at the Castle during the British occupation of the Cape. An elegant reminder of this period is the De Kat balcony designed by sculptor Anton Anreith. The Castle is filled with many art treasurers, including furniture, VOC china and glassware, and a collection of paintings assembled by William Fehr which includes 22 oil paintings by the famous artist Thomas Baines

The well‑known balcony is an outstanding feature of the dividing wall. The first balcony was built in 1695 and known as "De Puije'. It was rebuilt between 1786 and 1790. From this balcony proclamations were read, announcements made and laws proclaimed to soldiers and civilians at the Cape. All legal sentences were announced from here and at the balcony official visitors to the Castle were welcomed.

In 1936, the balcony which had become derelict was threatened by plans to demolish it. This was prevented, however, by an architect by the name of James Morris, who offered to restore it at his own expense.
Sundials were used to tell the time in the early years at the Cape. The sundial on the eastern side (above the ceremonial office) was used to tell the time in the morning in the afternoon, the sundial next to the balcony was used.

Sundial above Main Arch	Eastern Sundial

The time of the sundials was the official time for the entire Cape settlement. The settlement was kept informed of the time by the ringing of the bell in the bell‑tower every hour on the hour. At night, or when the sun did not shine, time was kept by means of an hour glass. The "rondeganger" (guard on duty) turned the hour glass and rang the bell.
The Castle represents, in its restored form, Dutch, English and French building styles. In certain parts the flat roofs favoured by the Dutch were rebuilt during restoration. In other sections the pitched roofs and stone work of the British era can be seen. The original slate roof tiles were replaced with replicas.