| Jan van Riebeeck arrived
in the Cape in 1652, he was sent by the Dutch East India Company to
establish a refreshment station for the ships passing the Cape on
their new trade route with the East. As he settled down, he ventured
forth to explore the surrounding territory.
He soon crossed over the Kloof and
discovered a bay with a fine beach and big forest behind Table
Mountain. This area behind Table Mountain was not utilised by the
company for a long time as it had few attractions for early farmers
and the line of breakers made it dangerous for shipping.
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The
Wernich farmhouse later became the holiday home of
British Governors, including Lord Charles
Somerset. |
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in History |
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By 1700 the land behind the kloof
was known as Roodekrantz or Red Bank because of the colour of the
soil. The land was granted to John Lodewyk Wernich, Burgermeester of
Bismark. He built a farmhouse and called it Ravensteyn. His widow,
Anna Koekemoer married her third husband Fredrik Ersnt Von Kamptz. Von
Kamptz was now the proud owner of Ravensteyn at Roodekrantz near the
Kloof. He constructed a track along the coast from his house to Cape
Town. The French Fortify
Camps Bay : 1777 When the
American war of Independence erupted in 1777, France and the
Netherlands sided with America against England. As the Cape was a
vital supply and trading station, both the French and English
dispatched fleets to the Cape. The
French won the race to the Cape arriving in 1781, eleven days before
the British. Soon war had broken out between Holland and England.
For the following three years the French remained at the Cape to
help their Allies the Dutch to protect it and they assisted with
both its fortifications and social life. The
French advised that a line of fortifications be built extending from
the sea to Devils Peak, as well as the battery on Kloof Nek. Von
Kamptz's track to Camps Bay was torn up, trenches were dug and a
battery and guardhouse built, commanding the beach, manned by Dutch
militia to prevent an enemy landing. The
Bay of Von Kamptz When
the war was over and Von Kamptz returned home to find his farm had
gone to rack and ruin. He complained of the damage to the government
and demanded that they restore his track. The Governor refused to do
so and instead agreed to buy the farm for 10 000 Rex Dollars. Camps
Bay Battery On 31 January
1786, the government compensated Von Kamptz for his loss and took
over the farm and within a few months two small batteries were
built. First British
Occupation When the news
arrived in 1793 of the renewed war between France and the
Netherlands, the batteries were hastily put in order. In
1807 Lord Charles Somerset, based in the Cape was to use abuilding
known as the "Round House" in Camps Bay as his hunting
lodge. Camps Bays secrete as
a supreme beauty spot began to trickle beyond the confines of the
Governors, Chief Justices and their visitors who had bumped and
jolted along the dangerous and narrow road to the beach. By 1848 a
good road round the Kloof had reached Camps Bay. The road was called
Lady Smiths Pass after the current Governors wife, although it was
later renamed Kloof Road. Next
Page : Modern History If
you have any queries or any information / pictures to contribute to
this site please email: webedit@campsbay.com |
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