The area of Blaauwbosch was bought in 1895 by a private syndicate consisting of 31 Christian Zulu landowners. The elegant Methodist Church and School was built in 1912 of local sandstone and umGabaan stone. From 19117 to 1918 the well…
09L | “Intombi Cemetery was the last resting place of around 700 British Soldiers. Sewn in blankets these men were buried at the rate of 28 a day during the last month of the siege. (February 1900). Look for the…
Completed in 1905 “His Majesty’s Goal, Newcastle”, was at the time considered “the most up-to-date institution” of its kind in the Colony of Natal. The building reflected the neo-classical style of the Edwardian times. The original jail keeper’s house can…
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This typical colonial Victorian house in Lennoxton was the family home Mac Maharaj, who was a founder member of the Anti-Apartheid Movememnt, a prisoner on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela from 1965 1976, a prominent member of the ANC and…
11L | “The 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifles began building Rifleman’s Post on 1st November 1899. Sited on the western perimeter the Post was manned by two companies of the regiment under the command of Shakerly and Ward who had…
12L | “The first Muslim traders came to Ladysmith in 1885. Showing honesty and courtesy as businessmen they were firm in their faith. With the moral and financial aid of the community, a wood and iron mosque was built in…
13L | “On the night of 10/11 December 1899 Digby-Jones RE VC blew up a Boer 4.7 inch Howitzer during a night sortie. On their way down they were attacked by the Pretoria Kommando, the young Deneys Reitz among them….
16L | “In 1891 the Ladysmith Town Council requested proposals for a new town hall. The selected design by Robert Walker observed the medieval conventions of design with a T configuration. With the entrance through a portico, the Town Clerk’s…
17L | LOOKOUT POINT FROM CONVENT HILL Convent Hill now La Verna Hospital. This position in the hospital car park offers a splendid panoramic view of Ladysmith. The following features can be found on the “Hill”: ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH A…
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19L | A fairly concealed position some way back along the flat crest of a hill 500 ft high, from which commanding altitude it could fire in any direction. Originally occupied by the Natal Naval Volunteers with an antiquated 7…
20L | This was the main Naval position: “A piece of high ground in the centre of the Northern line of defence, was the first position selected for the Naval 12 pounders: The lines of defence encircling Ladysmith were extensive,…
21L | “At the Commissariat Godown, an Indian “Coolie” armed with a large umbrella constituted himself the special watcher for Umbulwana “Tom” and his shrill cry of “Lang Taam” became very familiar to the fatigue parties at Fly Kraal. When…
22L | Johannes Hendrick De Lange was a well-known figure in Natal, having been an early Voortrekker scout into Natal and a member of the commando which defeated the Zulu’s at the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838….
