Somerset East, Eastern Cape
Encyclopedia
Somerset East is a town in the Blue Crane Route in the Eastern Cape
, South Africa
, which was founded by Lord Charles Somerset
in 1825.
The Blue Crane Route follows the national road R63 from Pearston, via Somerset East, to Cookhouse
. Somerset East, at the foot of the Boschberg Mountains, is a quaint, serene little town that's as famous for the natural beauty as it is for its many beautiful national monument buildings.
The forested, mountainous backdrop creates a dramatic setting for the town (which is within sight of no less than 16 waterfalls). This is where you'll find the thickly wooded Boschberg Nature Reserve, with its popular hiking trails - including a 15 km circular route to an overnight hut at the summit of the mountain. As the Route's name suggest, Somerset East is an excellent bird-watching destination - other adventures include trout fishing on five local dams, as well as Rainbow and Brown trout fishing in the Glen Avon Waterfall pools, malaria free safari and hunting operations. The highly-rated 9-hole golf course is said to be one of the most beautiful in the country.
Amongst the many noteworthy buildings in the town are the Old Wesleyan Chapel, which now houses the Somerset East Museum, and the officers' mess, which now houses the largest collection of paintings by the renowned South African artist Walter Battiss.
Annual events include the Castle Lager Biltong Festival, which was started in 1991, the Bruintjieshoogte Marathon, Bruintjieshoogte Cycle Tour (run between Pearston & Somerset East) and the Spring Rose & Flower show - Somerset East is known to produce some of the finest roses in the country.
asking for the establishment of a Drostdy and a church in the area. This was how Graaff-Reinet came to be established.
At some stage Prinsloo gave up parts of his farm and a farmer called Otto moved into the corner now known as Bestershoek. The Trichardt family followed, as well as the Besters.
Lord Charles Somerset
, taking up the ideas promulgated by Cradock and Caledon
that there should be a settlement on the Eastern Frontier, initiated a plan for an experimental farm in the area. American botanist, dr. Mackrill, was given orders to find a suitable farm, and was told to look at three places, the Gamtoos Valley, the Swartkops Valley and Boschberg, which he chose.
The farm was established in 1815, for the purpose of improving stockbreeding in the Cape Colony and providing produce for the soldiers at the Frontier. It was called "Somerset Farm".
Ten years later, in 1825, the project was cancelled, a new Drostdy was declared, and the town of Somerset was established. The "East" was only added on 30 years later.
is one of the oldest colleges in the Eastern Cape, founded in 1869, after a large donation was made by Dr. William Gill.
Timothy Training Institute
is a non-profit Christian organization, based in Somerset East, since 2006. Originally founded in 1986 - Timothy Training Institute's vision has remained the same - to equip church leaders with thorough Biblical knowledge, to enable them to effectively lead and serve their communities.
Aeroville School is a secondary school for grades 8 to 12, on the edge of Somerset East. It is twinned with Golden Hillock School
in Birmingham, UK.
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, which was founded by Lord Charles Somerset
Lord Charles Somerset
General Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, from 1814 to 1826.-Background:...
in 1825.
The Blue Crane Route follows the national road R63 from Pearston, via Somerset East, to Cookhouse
Cookhouse
Cookhouse is a small town in Eastern Cape province, South Africa....
. Somerset East, at the foot of the Boschberg Mountains, is a quaint, serene little town that's as famous for the natural beauty as it is for its many beautiful national monument buildings.
The forested, mountainous backdrop creates a dramatic setting for the town (which is within sight of no less than 16 waterfalls). This is where you'll find the thickly wooded Boschberg Nature Reserve, with its popular hiking trails - including a 15 km circular route to an overnight hut at the summit of the mountain. As the Route's name suggest, Somerset East is an excellent bird-watching destination - other adventures include trout fishing on five local dams, as well as Rainbow and Brown trout fishing in the Glen Avon Waterfall pools, malaria free safari and hunting operations. The highly-rated 9-hole golf course is said to be one of the most beautiful in the country.
Amongst the many noteworthy buildings in the town are the Old Wesleyan Chapel, which now houses the Somerset East Museum, and the officers' mess, which now houses the largest collection of paintings by the renowned South African artist Walter Battiss.
Annual events include the Castle Lager Biltong Festival, which was started in 1991, the Bruintjieshoogte Marathon, Bruintjieshoogte Cycle Tour (run between Pearston & Somerset East) and the Spring Rose & Flower show - Somerset East is known to produce some of the finest roses in the country.
History
The first settler in this area was a man called Willem Prinsloo. He settled under the Bosberg, very close to where the Museum is today. Prinsloo was the unofficial veld cornet of the district where at least 20 other families had settled by 1774. They send a famous petition to Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
asking for the establishment of a Drostdy and a church in the area. This was how Graaff-Reinet came to be established.
At some stage Prinsloo gave up parts of his farm and a farmer called Otto moved into the corner now known as Bestershoek. The Trichardt family followed, as well as the Besters.
Lord Charles Somerset
Lord Charles Somerset
General Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, from 1814 to 1826.-Background:...
, taking up the ideas promulgated by Cradock and Caledon
Du Pre Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon
Du Pré Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon KP , styled The Honourable from 1790 to 1800 and then Viscount Alexander to 1802, was an Irish peer, landlord and colonial administrator, and was the second child and only son of James Alexander, 1st Earl of Caledon.-Education and Inheritance:He was educated...
that there should be a settlement on the Eastern Frontier, initiated a plan for an experimental farm in the area. American botanist, dr. Mackrill, was given orders to find a suitable farm, and was told to look at three places, the Gamtoos Valley, the Swartkops Valley and Boschberg, which he chose.
The farm was established in 1815, for the purpose of improving stockbreeding in the Cape Colony and providing produce for the soldiers at the Frontier. It was called "Somerset Farm".
Ten years later, in 1825, the project was cancelled, a new Drostdy was declared, and the town of Somerset was established. The "East" was only added on 30 years later.
Educational institutions
Gill CollegeGill College
Gill College is a South African high school in Somerset East. It was originally founded in 1869 as a university.The school's namesake, Dr. William Gill, died in 1863 and left an estate equivalent to $23,000 US dollars for the establishment of a college of higher education. Gill College was...
is one of the oldest colleges in the Eastern Cape, founded in 1869, after a large donation was made by Dr. William Gill.
Timothy Training Institute
Timothy Training Institute
Timothy Training Institute is a non-denominational Christian mission, equipping church leaders with thorough Biblical knowledge and life-application studies, to enable them to better serve their communities and lead their congregations.-History:...
is a non-profit Christian organization, based in Somerset East, since 2006. Originally founded in 1986 - Timothy Training Institute's vision has remained the same - to equip church leaders with thorough Biblical knowledge, to enable them to effectively lead and serve their communities.
Aeroville School is a secondary school for grades 8 to 12, on the edge of Somerset East. It is twinned with Golden Hillock School
Golden Hillock School
Golden Hillock School is located in the centre of Birmingham, in Sparkhill. It is developing daily in terms of the school's building improvements and learning techniques. Golden Hillock School has been serving the community of Sparkhill since 1910...
in Birmingham, UK.
External links
- Official Somerset East Information Guide Information
- Tourism information site for Somerset East Information
- Gill College Information
- Timothy Training Institute Information