There have been 3 churches in Church Square, the historic centre of the city of Pretoria. But before that it was known as Market Square. For many years, it was exactly that; a bustling produce market where not only vegetables and fruit were sold, often off the back of the wagons which had brought the produce to town, but also oxen and horses were sold here. It was also a sports field and a mustering place for soldiers. The last church was demolished after the funeral of Paul Kruger, the 5th President of South Africa was conducted from it. The reason for its demolition is obscure. The square has a now controversial statue of Paul Kruger and 4 Boer soldiers within it. Once the market was no longer the square’s primary purpose it was designed with both London’s Trafalgar Square and Paris’ Place de la Concorde in mind.

It is now surrounded by equally historic and architecturally important buildings such as the Tudor Chambers, the Old Council Chamber, the Old Capitol Theatre – built during the era of Atmospheric theatre design which resulted in far more elaborate theatres than is common today.

The Palace of Justice is now the North and South Gauteng’s High Court, but during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899, it was used as a military hospital for British troops. Today, it is more famously known for where, during the Rivonia Trials, Nelson Mandela made one of his most famous speeches. Not only was it 3 hours long but it included this profound and rousing statement: “During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination; I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

The buildings, each with their own history, that surround Church Square, make this a fascinating place to visit.