The Cape's threatened buildings
Ruins off the Swellendam to Bredasdorp road (R319), Overberg
A ruined farmstead off the R319 between Swellendam and Bredasdorp, Overberg. Found on the Muurkraal/Witdam road, there is a ruined, fairly deep three-bay farmhouse built of mud bricks and what looks like an older barn (or longhouse) that is built of beautiful stonework up to lintel-height, then topped with mud bricks.
The exposed wall fabric reveals various stages of development, and the stonework appears to have a join at centre, suggesting the barn was doubled in length fairly early on. It may once have been thatched, but its corrugated iron roof has lasted longer, thereby protecting the now collapsing walls. But only until the roof, which is precariously perching on the walls, collapses too.
Matthias Streicher: Old Jan “Motsak” Swart owned the farm and built these houses. The story goes that there lived two spinster sisters, both got sick from TB. In those days people believed that the TB germs stayed in the building for years. So when these two ladies moved out no one moved in again.
My great grandfather bought the farm in the 1940’s. The photo above with the thatch roof still on was taken by my grandfather in the 60’s. My father sold it to the Human family in 1999. Both my aunt and my neighbour Mr. Human had there wedding photos taken at the old barn.
So it is still cherished in a way. P.S. We don’t think of it as remote, it is just about 15 minutes drive from town. We have lived here all our lives. But we know that it must have been a different story for forefathers and mothers.
I thought perhaps that Elim would be a good benchmark and checked now, but I wonder if this farmhouse would go back quite that far (1820 to 1850ish).
This part of the world feels quite remote to me now – I wonder what it must have felt like to live there in the 1800s! Especially if someone became very ill or another tragedy struck…
