Thank you Barry Lots of info there. would the name WEEPENER be there perhaps? Pat -------------------------------------------------- From: "Barry Crookes" <bcrookes@iafrica.com> Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 1:54 AM To: <south-africa-cape-town@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [SOUTH-AFRICA-CAPE-TOWN] Old Bridge Somerset West > Hi Pat > > There is a book called "The Story of Hottentots Holland" by Peggy Heap > which > was published in 1970 with the sub-title "Social history of Somerset West, > the Strand, Gordon's Bay and Sir Lowry Pass over three centuries" which > states that "The Lourens River was bridged by the Central Road Board in > 1845. This double-span bridge was proclaimed a national monument in 1938 > in > which year a new bridge was completed." > > The Central Road Board was formed in 1843 on account of the "appalling > condition of the roads in the colony". "The Colonial Secretary, the Hon. > John Montagu - he had fought as a subaltern at the battle of Waterloo - > was > the force behind this body. One of the Central Road Board's first tasks > was > the construction of a hard road across the Cape Downs. This work was > undertaken by Lt Col Charles Mitchell, Surveyor-General and Civil Engineer > of the Cape Colony, who had built Sir Lowry's Pass in 1830." > > The completion was widely welcomed but... "Within two years long stretches > of the road almost disappeared under drifting sands. Nothing daunted, > Mitchell then raised it in the worst places to a height of sixteen feet. > At > the same time Montagu was experimenting with the planting of Hottentot or > sour fig (Mesembryanthemum) in an attempt to hold the sand. This was > partially successful, but Montagu was not satisfied and, every South > African > bush and tree having been tried, he imported from Australia seeds of the > Port Jackson willow, wattle and hakea. These grew and spread, the Hrd Road > was saved and the sand of the Cape Downs controlled to a marked degree". > > These Australian trees are now widely distributed throughout the Western > Cape and in many places threaten the indigenous fynbos species, and > strenuous efforts are being taken to eliminate them. > > I am sure that Peggy Heap's book is now out of print, but I have a copy > and, > as it has many stories of local families going back many years, if anyone > would like me to look up anything please get in touch with me, and if I am > not overwhelmed by the enquiries, I will see what I can find! > > Barry Crookes > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SOUTH-AFRICA-CAPE-TOWN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2433/5089 - Release Date: 06/23/12 >

Sorry Pat no such name. Barry -----Original Message----- From: south-africa-cape-town-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:south-africa-cape-town-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Pat Frykberg Sent: 24 June 2012 08:25 PM To: south-africa-cape-town@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SOUTH-AFRICA-CAPE-TOWN] Old Bridge Somerset West Thank you Barry Lots of info there. would the name WEEPENER be there perhaps? Pat