Heritage buffs explore Nieu-Bethesda

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — A wonderful day was spent in and around Nieu-Bethesda by the members of the Graaff-Reinet Heritage Society on Thursday, April 27.

The marvellous autumn colours of the poplars and pear trees greeted them as they came down into the valley and the heritage buffs felt grateful to those who planted them for providing the enjoyment for so many through the different seasons.

At St Davids Church, which dates from the beginning of the 20th century, members heard Dora Oliphant talk about how her life has been enriched by this church.

Her parents talked about how each stone was carried down from the surrounding hills to build the church. Justin Duckitt, the builder who renovated the church, explained what restoration measures were used to preserve the building which was in a state of near collapse. It is strengthened now with a brace with crosses on either end.

The society's members then moved on to the cemetery where Peet van Heerden generously spent time talking about the colourful characters buried there. The northern end of the town did not receive irrigation water so the residents there were poorer and were buried in the northern part of the cemetery. The markers on some of the oldest graves are huge slabs of uncut stone with roughly cut names and dates: Matthys van As Pretorius died on 7 July 1797. The people of Nieu-Bethesda look after the cemetery - honouring their forefathers.

Before leaving the village Van Heerden showed them a beautiful example of dry stone walling, a skill which some locals still practise.

They then drove out to the farm Weltevreden, where Clare Sheard who lived there for many years, was their hostess. Next to where they had their picnic is the “prison.”

A former owner of the farm was the magistrate in Graaff-Reinet. At weekends he brought prisoners out from town to work and locked them up in this building at night. The story goes that the prisoners managed to get out at night and raced the farm horses up and down the road so that in the morning the horses were too tired to work!

The Heritage Society extends its thanks to all those who made this outing possible and encourages others to join future outings.