Rhodes Village - Eastern Cape
A brief history of the village of Rhodes
White
farmers settled the more remote areas of the Highlands of the Eastern Cape in the 1880s.
Prior to this, the only inhabitants of this inhospitable region were seasonally migratory
members of the San tribe. They, at least, were sensible enough to follow the exodus of
most game species out of the mountains during the harsh winter months!
A
land surveyor, Joseph Orpen and his brother Richard laid out farms in the Barkly East
district and parts of the Herschel area. They immigrated to South Africa in 1864 and
although originally from Dublin, the farms were given Scottish names – on account of
the surveyor being of Irish origin? Their descendants still conduct farming activities on
a property given to Orpen in lieu of cash for the job. Farms thus demarcated became
available for purchase from the government on a “huurkoop” basis.
The origins of Rhodes lie in the
establishment of agricultural activities and the concurrent development of the Dutch
Reformed Church in the region. It was founded on the farm Tintern that belonged to a Mr
Jim Vorster. Vorster agreed to the establishment of the village on condition that 100
plots be sold and that it be named after the then Prime minister of the Cape, Cecil John
Rhodes (1853-1902). A Mr Shaw of Sauer & Osmond duly sold the plots and Rhodes was
founded on 16 September 1891. The rest of the farm was given to the village as commonage.
Rural legend has it that the village was first named Rossville. Despite careful archival
research of extant documentation by the School of Architecture of the University of Natal,
including a publication by P Raper entitled the “Dictionary of South African Place
Names”, no evidence of a name change from Rossville to Rhodes was found. However, a
possibility exists that as Ross was the Dutch Reformed minister at the time, this
misconception is probably based on confusion between the name of the local church ward
named Rossville in his honour and that of the village. Another possibility is that it was
the figment of somebody’s imagination seeking to romance the origins of its name.
Ross
was based in Lady Grey and ministered from there to the far-flung outposts in the region,
travelling from farm to farm on horseback. Ross was of Scottish origin and alternated
between English and Afrikaans each Sunday whilst conducting his ministry. The outbreak of
the Anglo-Boer War interrupted his activities. He was perceived to be too closely aligned
with the opposition by the British and was summarily arrested. He spent the duration of
hostilities in the concentration camp in Aliwal North. On cessation of the war, he was
released with the clothes on his back and no shoes. Ross walked from Aliwal North to Lady
Grey barefoot. Thoroughly disenchanted with the British he vowed to never conduct another
church service in English ever again. Credit must be given where it is due. He religiously
stuck to his word.
On the 15th June 1892, the
cornerstone of the Dutch Reformed Church was laid. The population at this time was
estimated at between 250 and 300 people. The construction of the church was soon followed
by that of the Post Office, Court Room and Gaol complex that was completed in 1898 at a
cost of the princely sum of 558 pounds 14 shillings and 10 pence. Construction of the
Naudesnek Pass was started in 1895 on the advice of Stephanus Naude of the farm Dunley who
was the first person to cross the mountain range with an oxwagon. Heavy snowfalls during
the Anglo-Boer War stopped construction and the pass was completed in 1905 under the
direction of engineer Alfred Bain. The old wagon route can still be seen in places.
Early records show that schooling
started in 1894 with 45 pupils. By 1895, Rhodes boasted the largest school in the Barkly
East district with 67 pupils. By 1912, this had increased to 90. In February 1916, a
process to acquire land for a school was started. By the 6th of March 1918, the
“Rhodes Education Site” was given to the village for the construction of a
school. Sir Herbert Baker allegedly designed the school building, completed in 1924. Baker
left the Cape Colony in 1902 and South Africa for New Delhi in 1913 which was some three
years before the good citizens of Rhodes started agitating for a formal school premises
and facility. His partners Kendall and Morris or possibly Kendall on his own may well have
designed it. Baker, Kendall and Morris had a partnership until 1920 when Baker resigned.
Kendall & Morris continued to practise until 1925 when Morris left. A boarding school
was started in about 1915 in the old Ginsberg Hotel run by Mr H Venter in 1905. It burnt
down during its use as a hotel and was rebuilt to become the school hostel. It is hostel
function ceased with the closure of the school. It became a family home with its heyday in
the so-called “Hippie era” of the late 70s and early 80s. It was then used as a
base station for the Tiffindell Ski Resort construction team and is the site on which
Walkerbouts Inn was established in 1996. Major renovations were completed by June 1999 and
it has continued in its current state since then. By 1928, there were 112 pupils and
teachers with classes being given up to standard 8. By the 1940s the number of pupils
declined to 70 and by 1947 there were only 30 to 40 pupils with 3 teachers. By 1948, Std 6
was the highest pupils could aspire to and by 1967 there were only 20 pupils in
attendance. The school finally closed in 1974.
Another rural legend has it that
Rhodes acknowledged the village being named after him by way of a donation of a wagonload
of pine trees. Early photographs of the village as well as the life span of the species
concerned debunk this charming anecdote. However, records show that 1 pound 17 shillings
and 3 pence was paid to the Barkly East Municipality for pine trees (Pinus insegnus).
Botanically speaking these trees have a lifespan of approximately 70 years. Some can still
be seen in the village which adds weight to the non-C J Rhodes origin of the trees.The
village is 1840m above sea level and 16km due south of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
The towns of Maclear, Ugie and Elliot
that lie below the nearby escarpment surround it. Barkly East lies above the escarpment to
its west, about 60km or at least 60 minutes drive from the village on a narrow and winding
gravel road that must be driven with care. Rhodes is a remote village, almost frozen in
time, a relic from the past and a living record of the trials and tribulations of the
surrounding farming community. The unique nature of the architecture finds its origins in
the Victorian era and is a compromise between fashion, availability of materials and
practicality. Houses range from grand traders’ residences to flat-roofed
‘kerk-huisies’ used as town houses in days gone by when travelling to the
village, mostly on horseback, from the surrounding farms was a major outing. These
buildings are sprinkled amongst tree-lined streets and all contribute to the quaint charm
of the atmosphere.
The
village has had several phases starting off as a direct result of the agricultural
activities in the area. Agricultural fortunes gradually declined until the village became
almost derelict in the late 70s. It was “discovered” at this time by a group of
people seeking an alternative lifestyle, “Living off the land, man”. This period
was referred to as the Hippie era and a multitude of legends surround it, amongst the last
proponents of this way of life was literally burned out of the village. His house burnt
down and in more recent years the owner was compensated for the damage in the course of
the activities of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The
village gradually became better known as a tourist destination and with the advent of the
ruralised yuppies, property prices have soared making it impossible for the average person
who may have wanted to settle in the village to do so. In 1970, houses were
“sold” for the arrears in rates and taxes or even given away. By 1987 good-sized houses sold for up to R30 000. By the
mid-90's this had doubled. The same properties would now command prices in the region of
R400 000. The nett result of this popularity is that there are now fewer permanent white
residents than there were three years ago. Yuppies and such have made it more difficult
for “real” people to be able to afford to live in Rhodes on a permanent basis
– indeed a world-wide phenomenon!
Note from the webmaster: Thanks to Dave
Walker, presumably the author, for the above article. 1. For more information on
early settlements in this region a number of publications may give varying impressions.
eg. " History of the Basuto, Ancient and Modern" by D. Fred.
Ellenberger,V.D.M. available from Morija Museum and Archives, Morija, Lesotho Tel +266 233
60 308 - Curator Stephen Gill 2.
Peter E. Raper's "New Dictionary of South African Place Names" refers to
"Rossville (EC 3027 DD). Former name of Rhodes... " page 327 . Cf. -
bibliography pages on this site.
Here are some useful addresses in the Rhodes area:
Highlands Info
:
Information & accommodation booking service
http://www.highlandsinfo.co.za/
Wild Trout Association:
Information, administration & central beat register
http://www.rhodesvillage.co.za/
The Highland Brewery: Producer of fine
beer (No contact details supplied)
Walkerbouts Inn :
AA Quality Assured Accommodation in the "Recommended" category
http://www.walkerbouts.co.za/
Thanks to Dave Walker for this information.
http://www.rhodesvillage.co.za/
Contact Dave on : Telephone 045 974 92 90
Fax 045 974 93 06
