Historical Papers, Wits University

AB2137

GRAY, SOPHIA, sketches, 1855-1867

1 sketch book and 48 leaves of sketches, 1855-1867

INTRODUCTION

Sophia Gray is often cited as South Africa's first woman architect. But her architectural endeavours had started much earlier in her ancestral home in England.

Sophia Gray was the wife of Robert Gray, who was the first Bishop of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa. Having arrived in the Cape province in 1947, the couple settled in Protea, later called Bishopscourt. From there Sophy Gray undertook long and strainous trips, often on horseback, around the Cape up to KwaZulu Natal. She always carried her portfolio, sketching all the way. By 1861 she was managing 21 building projects in various parishes, with her favourite project being St Saviours in Claremont.

Even when her health began to deteriorate, she insisted on keeping up with her work as architect, estate manager, accountant and secretary to the Bishop. She died in 1871 and was buried in the church yard of St Saviours.

(Text from the article "Architectural greats: Sophy Gray", by Matthew Barac, published in the magazine "Elle Decoration", July 2005.)

The drawings in this collection were discovered at the St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, and have been restored and exhibited to the public.

COLLECTION

A

SKETCH BOOK, 12 x 22 cm, 1863-1867

The sketch book relates to the Cape and Natal with pencil sketches and water colours of Newhaven Knysna, Karkloof, Bushman's River, St. John's River, Cape Point, Paarl from Sand Drift, Fransche Hoek, Grey Bridge at Michell's Pass, Umgeni, Springvale and Durban Harbour and Berea, Umzinto.

B

48 LEAVES OF SKETCHES, 1855-1859

The 48 loose sketches, c. 1855-1859, are in water-colour, pencil, pen and ink. Theyrelate mainly to the Cape with a few English scenes and two by her husband, Bp. Robert Gray. The sketches are listed in no particular order. Descriptions are used as inscribed on the image by the artist.

Also included are slides of the 20 sketches, which are stored in the Media Room.

B1

Protea (now Bishopscourt)

B2

Protea

B3

Weltevrede M. Frey's, 1855

B4

Knysna Forest

B5

Distant view from Station Bains Kloof

B6