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

Hello Barry: I wondered if the book mentions any of my family, FRANK EDWIN CARTWRIGHT & his siblings & offspring? also, the WATERMEYER family? I know that he owned the farm, SPIER & also had business ties w/ Lourensford Estate, but wondered if there was anything in the book. Thanks for your kind offer, Coral Anna (Cartwright) Foster Bridgewater, VA, USA (ex Kalk Bay) > From: bcrookes@iafrica.com > To: south-africa-cape-town@rootsweb.com > Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:54:10 +0200 > 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