Infrastructure change throughout Herschel

Miss Harriet came to Herschel on the assurance that further extensions would be undertaken, when she came to visit the school, she noticed a lack of infrastructure for this potentially beautiful school because of the large amount of land which the school consumed. Miss Robinson then agreed to join the role of being the principle of the Herschel Girls’ School situated in Claremont during 1930 only if the council would spend more money on the buildings of the school grounds, which indicated her determination to transform Herschel from ordinary to extra-ordinary and to improve in the infrastructure at Herschel.

During the 1930s, there were many financial problems brought on by the Great Depression. This was a time of economic and political strain during this time throughout South Africa. The demand for South African agriculture and mineral exports declined drastically and a large portion of agricultural industry were unable to repay mortgages on their over-capitalised farms. All these financial strains around South Africa at this time led to further dislike of the ruling government, the National Party.

Many new buildings such as a library which is now currently the chapel was built at the Herschel Girls’ School. At this time, there were only fifty-five students who attended Herschel.

Senior open air balcony

In the late 920s and early 30s, it was common to sleep in the open air on a balcony, it was said to be good for one’s health to do so. Many of the houses in Cape Town during this period were doubled-storey houses and many houses had balconies. Further extensions were made around the new hall in 1930 and a sleeping balcony was provided there for the seniors. A dining room, the sleeping balcony and a classroom between the hall and the dining room wing was built.

By this time, the financial strain had subsided and Miss Robinson took advantage of this and saw it as an opportunity for change and then extended Herschel even more. She insisted on building a part of the school which was the Kindergarten, which is currently the Staffroom at the Senior School which had their own toilet facilities as well as a large classroom and Domestic Sciences ( which is now currently called Consumer Studies) classroom which she linked to the hall. Miss Robinson then managed to get the balcony extended, a fully equipped sick bay, an Art room, a new Staffroom with an adjacent cloakroom and a Science Laboratory. All these buildings were completed and opened in 1936. This was the most rapid infrastructural change at Herschel so far.

Library wing

In 1939-1940, the Baxter library was added to the school in the same year that Miss Robinson retired. The library was added onto the school campus, and this is currently where the chapel is today. William Duncan, who was the mayor of Cape Town and a very successful businessman, married Ethel Jagger in 1907-1908. The namely ”Jagger” is one of Herschel’s three houses namely; Rolt, Merriman and Jagger. Each student is put in a house and represents their respective houses in either cultural, academic or sport activities that take place throughout the year.

The Kindergarten

Miss Harriett Robinson has contributed a huge amount of infrastructural change and development o the Herschel Girls’ School and has transformed the school throughout a decade of development and has contributed to the current working environment of Herschel. Miss Robinson is a large aspect of history to Herschel and has laid a foundation for the modern day to build on from what she has provided us with. As time and society changes, technology and infrastructural development continues to evolve and hopefully we can lay the foundation of tomorrow.   

The front of the school