Koornlandsdrift, sadly demolished when an interest was shown in it. Dated 1841 on the gable, the T-shaped thatched house was a depiction of early settler activity on the lower slopes of the Porseleinberg, near the Berg River.
F A R M S
H o e r e e V a l l e y
BOVENPLAAS IN THE HOEREE VALLEY
This remote location soon impresses the difficulty of establishing any sort of farming activity in the modern world; in the 19th century it must have a feat of endurance just to create a route in and out, never mind the activity of land clearing. In a Surveyor General diagram dated 1821 this land was described as grazing ground.
This remote location soon impresses the difficulty of establishing any sort of farming activity in the modern world; in the 19th century it must have a feat of endurance just to create a route in and out, never mind the activity of land clearing. In a Surveyor General diagram dated 1821 this land was described as grazing ground.
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But before settlers arrived the San were already deeply embedded in this rugged, undulating landscape, leaving depictions of their life on rock overhangs above the streams. One can imagine that the fauna was more than adequate to sustain them.
What I want to do is relate a visit to this contradiction, that is of immense beauty, yet unforgiving environment.
The twisting, tortuous road (of sorts) leads through forests (often invasive), past cliffs, farm structures that illustrate a tenuous existence . . . even a deserted school house bears stark testimony of a once thriving community.
What I want to do is relate a visit to this contradiction, that is of immense beauty, yet unforgiving environment.
The twisting, tortuous road (of sorts) leads through forests (often invasive), past cliffs, farm structures that illustrate a tenuous existence . . . even a deserted school house bears stark testimony of a once thriving community.
An example of the San paintings in the vicinity.
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The spectacular landscape of the Hoeree.
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Ultimately the stop is before a small cottage on the farm Bovenplaa(t)s, built in 1922 by Jacobus Stephanus Vosloo, a family name that resonates in the valley. It is perched on a ‘klein koppie’, above the flood plain, which is a reminder of nature’s volatility. With roughly plastered walls, windows set askew, doorways so low as to cause a stoop, ceilings not much higher, this is particularly enchanting abode.
Pausing to contemplate, though, one realises that the land cleared with pick axes and spades created the rocks with which to build. It was no romantic notion that they were enduring. The original portion was thatched.
Buried in a nearby graveyard alongside his wife, Catharina, they existed in this small structure until in 1950 when it became necessary to expand, adding a tiny room and kitchen; the fact that nine children were ultimately raised in the space was undoubtably the reason. The smallest shared the main bedroom with the rest scattered about.
The expansion meant removing the thatch, to be replaced with corrugated iron, which because of its heat retention necessitated the inclusion of a ceiling. This was a useful place for storage of various foodstuffs, such as potatoes, pomegranate and quinces. Tobacco, fruit and vegetables were also cultivated. Located behind the house was a pig pen where they were fattened before being slaughtered. Outside was a bakoond, used until the 1980s.
The interior floors were of compressed earth and the walls were white-washed. The lintel and front door are of (painted) yellow wood. During the expansion small glass sections were added to the shuttered windows. It is difficult to comprehend how dark the interior must have been when everything was closed.
Stephanus passed away in 1966 and Catharina remained until 1987 when two of the sons stayed on, finally leaving in 1999.
Pausing to contemplate, though, one realises that the land cleared with pick axes and spades created the rocks with which to build. It was no romantic notion that they were enduring. The original portion was thatched.
Buried in a nearby graveyard alongside his wife, Catharina, they existed in this small structure until in 1950 when it became necessary to expand, adding a tiny room and kitchen; the fact that nine children were ultimately raised in the space was undoubtably the reason. The smallest shared the main bedroom with the rest scattered about.
The expansion meant removing the thatch, to be replaced with corrugated iron, which because of its heat retention necessitated the inclusion of a ceiling. This was a useful place for storage of various foodstuffs, such as potatoes, pomegranate and quinces. Tobacco, fruit and vegetables were also cultivated. Located behind the house was a pig pen where they were fattened before being slaughtered. Outside was a bakoond, used until the 1980s.
The interior floors were of compressed earth and the walls were white-washed. The lintel and front door are of (painted) yellow wood. During the expansion small glass sections were added to the shuttered windows. It is difficult to comprehend how dark the interior must have been when everything was closed.
Stephanus passed away in 1966 and Catharina remained until 1987 when two of the sons stayed on, finally leaving in 1999.
The old school house in the foreground, telling us of the community that once
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The small house on Bovenplaas, once home to eleven.
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The Vosloo grave.
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Across the river are the remains to two other houses, occupied by Stephanus’ two brothers, Danie in the smaller, and Thys in the larger. Both were also originally thatched. Before one of the structures is evidence of an unmarked grave.
A little further upstream are the remains of another stone cottage, that of the original owner of the farm, Behr, who because of a massive flood in 1916 sold and relocated to Onderplaas near Joubertina. The house was consequently deserted by the time a mill was constructed nearby in 1922; it was available for everyone to use.
A little further upstream are the remains of another stone cottage, that of the original owner of the farm, Behr, who because of a massive flood in 1916 sold and relocated to Onderplaas near Joubertina. The house was consequently deserted by the time a mill was constructed nearby in 1922; it was available for everyone to use.
The crumbling cottages of the father's brothers, across the river from the main house.
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The ruins of the Behr household, up river and deserted after the flood.
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The foundations and lower walls are all that remain of the mill.
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With gratitude to Jian and Mienkie Swiegers for gracious hosting, and to Kowie Swiegers for his notes which gave references of the farm.
V o l k s h u i s i e s , n e a r D a r l i n g
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A row of farm cottages standing on a section of the old road leading from Malmesbury to Darling. These mid-19th century structures, despite various attempts at restoration, are in a decrepit condition now. They tell something of the evolution of Darling, established in 1853.
P a p k u i l s f o n t e i n , s o u t h o f N i e u w o u d t v i l l e
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One of the many deserted farm complexes in an environmentally harsh part of the country. In the foundations of this building I found that bottles had been used in the construction; obviously anything that came to hand that could add to materials in what is still a remote location must have been utilised.
K l a a r f o n t e i n , o n t h e r o a d t o E l a n d s B a y
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This was probably the finest farmstead in the vicinity in its day, now a sad monument to this stature. Constructed in approximately 1775, it was however a loan farm from as early as 1728, a lonely outpost considering its distance from founding town at the Cape. This is a particularly sad record of the ineffectiveness of legislation to protect valuable heritage assets.
S c h o o n s p r u i t , o u t s i d e M a l m e s b u r y
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The high-Victorian farmhouse, probably very early 20th century, stands a couple of kms outside Malmesbury, facing the Diep River and railway line. Features of the structure are its turret and a wrap-around stoep. Standing away from the building is an impressive set of gate posts which serve little purpose in the modern world, no longer being the main entrance.
One of the original features of the property was the magical gardens. It was reputed that when passenger trains still ran between Malmesbury and Cape Town they would occasionally stop to allow the people to wander the impressive layout before continuing their journey.
One of the original features of the property was the magical gardens. It was reputed that when passenger trains still ran between Malmesbury and Cape Town they would occasionally stop to allow the people to wander the impressive layout before continuing their journey.
R o n d e h e u w e l , H e r m o n
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Rondeheuwel, dating from the mid 19th century, eventually gave its name to a section of the later mission station of Hermon. The farmhouse, after standing derelict and plundered (its teak wooden stoep, the oregon pine floors, etc) for a number of years has recently been renovated. Originally a long building, a section of the house was added to; by the style probably 1940s or 50s.
In interesting outside structure (demolished not too long ago) was the lion pens. Corroborated by three independent sources, the story details how the owner kept pet lions and on occasion sat with them on the property. Gawkers would drive from far to witness this phenomenon.
In interesting outside structure (demolished not too long ago) was the lion pens. Corroborated by three independent sources, the story details how the owner kept pet lions and on occasion sat with them on the property. Gawkers would drive from far to witness this phenomenon.
T h r e e i s o l a t e d f a r m h o u s e s
Brandewynrivier in the Agter Cederberg.
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To the east of Calvinia this complex huddles in the harsh Karoo landscape.
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Forlorn, this shell stands between Vermaaklikheid and Still Bay near the southern Cape coast.
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