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Jamestown, Western Cape

This article is about Jamestown in the Western Cape. For Jamestown in the Eastern Cape, see Jamestown, Eastern Cape.

Jamestown, also known as Webersvallei ("Weber's Valley") plus Mountain View,[2][3][4] is a quiet rural settlement on the southern outskirts of Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands District of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is situated next to Blaauwklippen Vineyards,[5][6] on the eastern side of route R44 from Stellenbosch to Somerset West and the Strand coastal resort.[7] The main access from the R44 is via Webersvallei Road, the main road in Jamestown with watererven – long, narrow agricultural plots on the south bank of Blouklip River – on the north side of the road and residential plots on the south side of the road.[8][9][10][11]

Jamestown
View over Jamestown towards Stellenbosch
View over Jamestown towards Stellenbosch
Jamestown is located in Western Cape
Jamestown
Jamestown
Jamestown is located in South Africa
Jamestown
Jamestown
Coordinates: 33°58′44″S 18°50′53″E / 33.979°S 18.848°E / -33.979; 18.848
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictCape Winelands
MunicipalityStellenbosch
Established1902
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.62 km2 (0.63 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
2,840
 • Density1,800/km2 (4,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • Black African3.3%
 • Coloured84.8%
 • Indian/Asian0.5%
 • White10.9%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Afrikaans89.8%
 • English7.5%
 • Other2.7%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
Jamestown 7600
PO box
Webersvallei 7614
Area code021

History

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Over time, Jamestown has transformed from a subsistence farming village into a primarily residential area as residents have sought work elsewhere in order to survive.[12][13][14] A heritage committee was established in 2010 to document the history of Jamestown for the benefit of future generations, to restore old buildings and to facilitate increased involvement in local festivals and commemorative events.[13][15]

 
Rhenish Mission Church in Stellenbosch where Jacob Weber served as minister
 
General Dealer on Webersvallei Road opened by JGC Williams in 1946

The village was named after James Rattray (1859–1938),[16][17] a Stellenbosch businessman who owned a butchery in Dorp Street.[12] He was the grandson of Scottish teacher James Rattray (c. 1795–1864) who immigrated to the Cape Colony in 1822, one of several British people recruited to the colony by Scottish missionary George Thom at the request of the governor Lord Charles Somerset.[18][19][20][21] In 1902 Rattray and Rhenish missionary Jacob Weber (1856–1937), who was born in Lennep in Germany and sent to Stellenbosch in 1882,[22][23] acquired a portion of the Blaauwklippen farm. The land was divided into plots and sold to coloured families, and most of the associated debt was paid off within twenty years.[2][12][24] Street names such as Everbearing, Festival, Nared, Pajaro, Rolinda, Tiobelle, Titan, Torrey, Tribute and Whiteheart in the residential area are based on strawberry varieties,[5][25] after the main crop grown there since 1902.[8][26][27][28] Other crops grown there include beans, lettuce, potatoes and tomatoes.[12][28]

Despite Weber's role in the establishment of Jamestown, it is not a mission station per se.[29] The Rhenish Mission Church built in 1823 is situated next to Die Braak,[30] the common in the Stellenbosch town centre.[10][23][31] A small church was inaugurated in Jamestown in 1923, which initially also served as a school for the area.[2][24] Some of the villagers served in the Second World War.[32] In 1946 JGC Williams opened the General Dealer in Webersvallei Road, which closed its doors in 2012 when his sons retired.[33] Jamestown was designated a coloured area under apartheid segregation laws, and the majority of the residents were not subjected to forced removals.[10][13][34] The 1970s saw the first tarred road and the arrival of electricity for those who could afford it.[12] Dominoes were traditionally played by the men in the village.[27] The Burnley soccer club established in 1932 and the Young Gardens soccer club in 1940 merged in 1973 to form Jamestown Aurora Athletic Football Club.[32][35] Jamestown has a long musical tradition which is a source of community pride. Christmas is a particularly busy time for the Jamestown Christian string orchestra established in 1967, which was preceded by the Jamestown tickey band.[36]

Further development

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Jamestown was incorporated into the greater Stellenbosch Municipality in 1994.[37]

Post apartheid the area experienced considerable rezoning and property development, targeted primarily at the luxury real estate market and not well integrated with the original residential area.[9][10][38][39]

The area has also seen the growth of informal settlements inhabited by agricultural labourers who work on surrounding farms and their families.[9][14]

Notable people from Jamestown

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  • Keenan Davidse – professional golfer[40][41]
  • Joyene Isaacs – head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (appointed January 2002)[42][43]
  • Marie Stander – figurative and portrait artist[44][45]

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Jamestown". Census 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Zöllner, Linda (1991). Die nasate van die Rynse sendelinge in Suid-Afrika [The descendants of the Rhenish missionaries in South Africa] (in Afrikaans). Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. pp. 198–199. ISBN 9780796909114. J. en 'n plaaslike sakeman, mnr. James Rattray (wat hom later aan die onderneming onttrek), koop twee plase buite Stellenbosch wat in erwe opgedeel en aan kleurlinge verhuur word. Na 'n aantal jare word die erwe die besit van die huurders. Die plek word Jamestown genoem maar later van staatsweë na Webersvallei verander. 'n Klein kerkie, wat nog in gebruik is, word deur J. daar opgerig.
  3. ^ "Postal Codes W" (PDF). South African Post Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013. The street postal code is 7600, listed under Jamestown. The box postal code is 7614, listed under Webersvallei.
  4. ^ The Telkom DSLAM for the surrounding area is named Webersvallei.
  5. ^ a b "How to Find Us". Blaauwklippen. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  6. ^ Blaauwklippen is Dutch for "blue cliffs", so named after the surrounding mountains.
  7. ^ Strand means "beach".
  8. ^ a b D.J. Potgieter; P.C. du Plessis, eds. (1972). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa Volume 6. Cape Town: Nasou. p. 182. ISBN 9780625003228. C.P. Hamlet near Stellenbosch where strawberries worth R4 000 are marketed in a favourable season.
  9. ^ a b c "Stellenbosch Municipal Spatial Development Framework Strategies Report". CNdV Africa Planning and Design CC. March 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2013. Jamestown is an historic agricultural Rhenish mission village that managed to avoid forced removals. Its mother church is located next to the Braak in Stellenbosch town. In addition to their individual agricultural plots the community also had access to the surrounding commonage on which they grew strawberries. Jamestown has three main socio-economic trends including: An aspirational middle class of property owners whose vision is for Jamestown to become one of the wealthy suburbs of Stellenbosch; A related population of largely marginalised youth and young couples who are unable to secure their own accommodation and live in backyards; Agricultural labourers and their families from surrounding farms who live in informal dwellings where they can rent land.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ a b c d "Stellenbosch Municipality Spatial Development Framework Part 2". Sustainability Institute. November 2012. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2013. A disjointed semi-rural settlement on the outskirts of Stellenbosch town consisting of three isolated components: a historic Rhenish mission village (Jamestown), an out of town shopping centre (Stellenbosch Square) and an upmarket golf estate (De Zalze).
  11. ^ "Aan de Weber". On 1 May 1902 – shortly after the Boer War – Rhenish missionary Jacob Weber and local businessman, James Rattray, acquired two sections of the farm then known as Blaauwklip. Original housing was built next to the unique narrow waterway erven that flowed outwards from the Webersvallei Road. The rural village that sprang up to the south was called Jamestown.
  12. ^ a b c d e Visagie, Eunice (29 June 2012). "Jamestown se erfenis: Laat stories loop" [Jamestown's heritage: Let the stories flow]. Eikestad Nuus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 12 July 2013. Jamestown het ontwikkel van 'n landboudorpie in 'n blydorpie – 'n dorpie wat selfonderhoudend was en wat nou net 'n blyplek geword het. Inwoners moet nou werk soek buite die grense van Jamestown. Jamestown het sy ontstaan te danke aan eer. E. Weber van die Rynse Sendinggemeenskap en James Rattray, die slaghuiseienaar in Dorpstraat, wat borg gestaan het vir die koop van die grond in 1902. Die kerk het die grond by die Blaauwklippen-plaas gekoop en erwe vir sy lidmate aangebied waarop hulle kon boer. Die erwe is beskikbaar gestel op 'n jaarlikse huurooreenkoms. Die oorspronkilke 25 families wat van hierdie erwe bekom het, het met groente en vrugte geboer. Hulle is ook geleer om aarbeie te verbou, maar dit was moeilik om 'n bestaan te maak en die grond het gereeld van eienaarskap verander. Oor die jare heen is Jamestown hersoneer van landbougebied tot dorpsgebied.
  13. ^ a b c Verster, Francois (18 May 2012). "Het Helderberg 'n muis gebaar, of is dit 'n olifant?" [Did Helderberg bear a mouse, or is it an elephant?]. Die Bolander (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  14. ^ a b van Wyk, Sherine (2002). Locating a counselling internship within a community setting (M.A. thesis). Stellenbosch University.[permanent dead link‍] Psychology research paper about a counselling internship in a primary health care setting in Jamestown, including a profile of the Jamestown community.
  15. ^ Verster, Francois (11 May 2012). "Erfenisprojek soos 'n oop hek: alle paaie lei na Jamestown" [Heritage project like an open gate: all roads lead to Jamestown]. Die Bolander (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  16. ^ Harris, Stewart (2006). "Who's Where in Cape Architecture" (PDF). Vernacular Architecture Society of South Africa. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Rattray, James (c1902) Stellenbosch Jamestown settlement 235b[permanent dead link‍] Index of personal names associated with places in A Guide to the Old Buildings of the Cape (2004) by Hans Fransen.
  17. ^ "Rattray James 1859–1938". eGGSA. Retrieved 16 July 2013. James Rattray's gravestone in Stellenbosch.
  18. ^ Stapylton-Adkins, Dawn (1992). James Rattray and his descendants in South Africa, 1822–1992. Cape Town: D. Stapylton-Adkins. p. 86. ISBN 0620169680. James circa 1795–1864 (a), James 1828–1884 (b5), James 1859–1938 (b5c4) James Rattray's code in the de Villiers/Pama system is b5c4. He was the fourth child of James Rattray (1828–1884), who was the fifth child of the progenitor James Rattray born in Scotland (c1795–1864).
  19. ^ "James Rattray and his descendants in South Africa, 1822–1992". Family History Library. Retrieved 12 July 2013. James Rattray married Helen Begg, born 1797 at Balgray, Scotland, daughter of Robert Beig and Margaret Coupar. They were married at Tealing, near Dundee Scotland in 1818. They immigrated to South Africa in 1822, first living in Tulbagh and later Worcester. Descendants lived in South Africa, California, and elsewhere.
  20. ^ "SAHRA – 9/2/084/0135". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Retrieved 12 July 2013. Stellenbosch heritage site built in 1900 by James Rattray.
  21. ^ George McCall Theal (1891). "History of South Africa, (1795–1834)". Swan Sonnenschein & Co. pp. 258–259. Retrieved 17 July 2013. In November 1818 the reverend Dr. George Thom, previously a missionary of the London society, entered the colonial service, and was appointed clergyman of Caledon in succession to Mr. Vos, who retired on account of old age. In 1821 Dr. Thom was sent by the government to Scotland, to endeavour to procure men of ability to fill the vacant pulpits of the Dutch reformed church, and to establish free schools of a high class in the principal villages. Dr. Thom also engaged six teachers to come out at once, and two others to follow as soon as possible. In July 1822 Mr. William Robertson was appointed to Graaff-Reinet, Mr. James Rose Innes, M.A., to Uitenhage, Mr. Archibald Brown, M.A., to Stellenbosch, Mr. William Dawson to George, Mr. James Rattray to Tulbagh, and Mr. R. Blair to Caledon.
  22. ^ Schubert, Joachim. "Rhenish Missionaries and Co-workers in South Africa". Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  23. ^ a b Crouse, Philip; Fourie, Hérine (1998). Stellenbosch: University Town on the Banks of the Eerste River. Cape Town: Human & Rousseau. p. 30. ISBN 9780798138659.
  24. ^ a b Strassberger, Elfriede (1969). The Rhenish Mission Society in South Africa, 1830-1950. Cape Town: C.Struik. p. 34. The Rev. J Weber bought a piece of ground, Jamestown, which he divided into plots and sold to coloured families, in order to alleviate the housing shortage. In 1903, fifty plots had been sold, and by 1924 most of the people had paid for their plots, and the ground now belonged to them fully. In 1923 a small church was inaugurated, which initially also served as a school. In 1925 a second teacher was appointed.
  25. ^ "Tourist guides for attractions around Stellenbosch, Western Cape". Explore South Africa. Archived from the original on 2013-07-14. At the beginning of the twentieth century Jacob Weber, a Rhenish missionary, and James Rattray, a Stellenbosch butcher acquired a portion of the farm Blaauwklippen, situated on the R44 towards Somerset West. The land was divided into 25 large plots, which were leased to members of the Rhenish Church and eventually became their property. Over the years these properties have been handed down from father to son, thus maintaining a strong family village atmosphere. Jamestown was one of the first places in the Cape where strawberry farming was conducted on a large scale. The streets are named after strawberry cultivars. The Weber primary school and Stellenzicht High School tend to the educational need of the community. In 1944 Jamestown was included in the greater Stellenbosch municipality.
  26. ^ Visagie, Eunice (9 July 2012). "Jamestown se aarbeiboere" [Jamestown's strawberry farmers]. Eikestad Nuus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  27. ^ a b van den Berg, Samantha (6 June 2013). "Gemeenskap groet Pat van der Rheede" [Community bids Pat van der Rheede farewell]. Eikestad Nuus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 19 July 2013. Pat, 'n dorpsvader van Jamestown en seker een van die bekendste aarbeiboere op die dorp, het verlede Woensdag in die vroeë oggendure in sy huis in die Webersvallei-pad aan vermoedelik 'n beroerte gesterf. Hy is Woensdagoggend vanuit die Rynse kerk op Die Braak begrawe.
  28. ^ a b "Kweker moet storie ken met aarbeie" [Grower must know story with strawberries]. Die Burger. 9 December 1989. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013. Die virusvrye aarbeiplantjies kom uit die Koue Bokkeveld. Daar is drie soorte, die selector wat in April geplant moet word, dan is daar die thiobell wat in Mei geplant word, en die parfait wat teen die einde van Junie geplant word. Teen die einde van Augustus is die een soort aarbei ryp. Dit word dan gepluk en gereed gemaak vir die mark en die kafees. Dié bedrywigheid duur dan tot einde Januarie. Daarna word die plantjies uitgehaal. Volgens mnr. Van der Rheede word die plantjies nie weer gebruik nie omdat dit 'n swakker graad aarbei sal dra. En dan breek die planttyd vir boontjies, kropslaai, aartappels en tamaties aan, sê hy.
  29. ^ Visagie, Eunice (13 July 2012). "Jamestown-erfenis: Die kerk" [Jamestown heritage: The church]. Eikestad Nuus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  30. ^ Die Braak means "fallow land".
  31. ^ "Rhenish Mission Church". Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  32. ^ a b Visagie, Eunice (27 July 2012). "Sokker is koning in Jamestown" [Soccer is king in Jamestown]. Eikestad Nuus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  33. ^ van Heerden, Elbé (18 June 2012). "Handelaar sluit na jare" [Dealer closes after years]. Eikestad Nuus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  34. ^ "SU staff visits various communities". Stellenbosch University. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2013. In terms of the Group Areas Act, black people were relocated from an informal settlement near Distell and from the residential areas of Idas Valley, Du Toit Station and Jamestown to Kayamandi.
  35. ^ Gaffney, Brian (3 October 2006). "Paulse notches hat-trick in final". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  36. ^ Visagie, Eunice (23 July 2012). "Jamestown en musiek sinoniem" [Jamestown and music synonymous]. Eikestad Nuus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  37. ^ Historical Stellenbosch on Foot. Stellenbosch Tourism and Information Bureau.
  38. ^ "Gholf-ontwikkeling van R200miljoen by Stellenbosch beplan" [R200 million golf development planned at Stellenbosch]. Die Beeld (in Afrikaans). 14 January 1998. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013. Die planne vir 'n 18 putjie-kampioenskapgholfbaan op die 300ha landgoed met sy ingang teenoor Jamestown, sowat 4 km buite Stellenbosch, is pas bekend gemaak.
  39. ^ "Eikestad bars uit sy nate" [Stellenbosch is bursting at the seams]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 11 June 2004. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013. Die winkelsentrum langs die R44 by Jamestown is die mees onlangse ontwikkeling wat goedgekeur is ondanks waarskuwings dat dit die middedorp van Stellenbosch skade kan berokken.
  40. ^ Gerber, Riaan (1 March 2012). "Fokus op gholf" [Focus on golf]. News24 (in Afrikaans). Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  41. ^ "Amateur players make their mark". IOL. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2013. Other established amateurs lost to the professional ranks included PG van Zyl, Johan du Buisson, Ruan Botha, Alphius Kelapile, Keenan Davidse, Lyle Rowe and Louis Calitz.
  42. ^ "Elsenburg: Management". Western Cape Government. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  43. ^ "Tussen die boere/Boere" [Between the farmers/Boers]. Die Beeld (in Afrikaans). 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2013. Sy het grootgeword in Jamestown, 'n dorpie buite Stellenbosch. 'Oupa het in 1940 daar 'n stuk grond gekoop. Hy was 'n kerkopsigter, maar het vir 'n ekstra inkomste met aarbeie geboer. Almal moes help. Tydens plukseisoen was ons soggens reeds vieruur in die land. Vandag sit ek nie my mónd aan aarbeie nie, maar die wete dat ons met ons grond altyd finansiële sekuriteit sou hê, en dat harde werk áltyd beloon word, was die twee belangrikste ankers in my lewe.'
  44. ^ "About Me". Marie Stander. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  45. ^ "Franschhoek Holden Manz Collection". Franschhoek.co.za. Retrieved 19 July 2013. The gallery schedules regular shows and has a resident selection of work from renowned artists such as Karin Miller, Marie Stander, Stuart Redler, Cecil Skotnes, André Villiers, Luhandri Bekker and Simon Annand.
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