Kensington, Gauteng Explained

Kensington
Pushpin Map:South Africa Gauteng#South Africa
Coordinates:-26.1933°N 28.1061°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:South Africa
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Gauteng
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:City of Johannesburg
Subdivision Type4:Main Place
Subdivision Name4:Johannesburg
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1897
Leader Title:Councillor
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:5.21
Population Total:19197
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Racial makeup (2011)
Demographics1 Title1:Black African
Demographics1 Info1:45.9%
Demographics1 Title2:Coloured
Demographics1 Info2:6.4%
Demographics1 Title3:Indian/Asian
Demographics1 Info3:9.5%
Demographics1 Title4:White
Demographics1 Info4:37.0%
Demographics1 Title5:Other
Demographics1 Info5:1.3%
Demographics Type2:First languages (2011)
Demographics2 Title1:English
Demographics2 Info1:59.6%
Demographics2 Title2:Zulu
Demographics2 Info2:11.0%
Demographics2 Title3:Afrikaans
Demographics2 Info3:6.7%
Demographics2 Title4:Xhosa
Demographics2 Info4:2.5%
Demographics2 Title5:Other
Demographics2 Info5:20.2%
Timezone1:SAST
Utc Offset1:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code (street)
Postal Code:2094
Postal2 Code Type:PO box
Postal2 Code:2101
Area Code Type:Area code

Kensington is a hilly suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It was established in 1897 by Max Langermann (after whom the thoroughfare Langermann Drive is named). It is located in Region F of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality[2] and is bounded to the west by the suburb of Troyeville, to the east by Bedfordview and the north by Bruma and Cyrildene.

History

Prior to the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886, the suburb lay on land of one of the original farms called Doornfontein.[3] Kensington is laid out over the slopes of several koppies (flat-topped, high-sided hills). The streets were laid out in 1903, with the suburb named by the owner of the land, Max Langermann. All of the streets coming off Langermann Drive are in alphabetical order and are named after British war ships.

The streets were heavily planted with trees, which give the area a distinctive, wooded appearance. Notable features of the suburb include Rhodes Park, named after Cecil Rhodes; Jeppe High School for Boys, Jeppe High School for Girls, Kensington Castle and the Kensington Cross, along with other streets e.g. Emerald Street named on the far end of Kensington.[4]

The Kensington Cross

The Kensington Cross is a memorial on Caledonia Hill, made out of granite with the shape of an Iona Cross, a superimposed sword (a 16th Century two-handed true claymore or claidheamhmor), the memorial proudly bears the Scottish shield of lion rampant and royal treasure. The inscription reads "Nemo me impune lacessit 1900".

Also known as the one of the Boer War Cross of Iona, the statue has an identical twin. On the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle and the other is on Caledonia Hill, Johannesburg. The later is cared for by the Transvaal Scottish Association.

Demographics

Religion

Kensington is also home to the headquarters for the Church of Scientology of Johannesburg.[5]

Economy

Retail

There are several shopping centres and office parks in the area such as the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Park Meadows Shopping Centre and the Pick 'n Pay head offices. Kensington is a restaurant neighbourhood in development, with most restaurants and coffee shops amid the antique shops on Queen Street. There is an annual Spring Fest on the opening weekend of September.

Education

There are several schools in the suburb. Kensington Ridge Primary School opened in August 1937.[6] Jeppe High School for Boys, Jeppe High School for Girls and Jeppe Prep are all located on Roberts Avenue. Leicester Road Primary school opened in 1938.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sub Place Kensington . Census 2011.
  2. Web site: January 30, 2016. 2007 map of regions of Johannesburg. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221307/http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/2012/pdfs/regional_map2012.pdf. March 4, 2016.
  3. Book: Dictionary of Southern African Place Names . Jonathan Ball Publishers . Raper, Peter E. . Moller, Lucie A. . du Plessis, Theodorus L. . 2014 . 1412 . 9781868425501.
  4. Web site: January 30, 2016. Scottish Horse War Memorial on Caledonia Hill.
  5. Web site: Official Church of Scientology: What is Scientology?.
  6. Web site: Schools history . Kensington Ridge Primary . 16 July 2017 . Drew, W.J.F..
  7. Web site: lrschool OUR SCHOOL. lrschool. en. 2018-09-12.