Pinelands was South Africa’s first “Garden City” this was a movement founded in England by Ebenezer Howard during the latter part of the nineteenth century – Howard’s proposals were revolutionary in concept and consisted of new towns or “garden cities” as he called them which would be planned with adequate space for schools, hospitals, roads, playing fields, churches and shops for all the requirements of ideal living conditions. Each garden city was to be a self-contained town with open spaces and trees for optimum living conditions for all.
Pinelands was still a concept when in 1919 the Union House of Assembly passed the following resolution: ....the withdrawal from the Uitvlugt Demarcated Forest Reserve of a portion therof, in extent 272 morgen, and grants therof, together with a further portion in extent 95 morgen, to the Trustees of the Garden Cities Trust, for the purpose of establishing thereon a Garden City.....
The Forest Reserve was a pine plantation and thus the name Pinelands was drawn from those trees.
Richard Stuttaford with a 10 000 pound donation and the Government's free land grant set up the Garden Cities Trust, they followed the idea and designs of the two garden cities in England namely Letchworth, set up in 1907 and the second Welwyn set up in 1917. English architects drew up the original plan and work started at the beginning of 1921 with the first house completed in February 1923. Extra land was obtained in 1942 and many houses were built for families of returning soldiers, sailors, etc. after the Second World War.
Clue 1 - Start at a sign at the end of Forest Drive (S33 56.644 E18 29.599) when do they meet (A) and (B) Wednesday. Please don’t stop on the main road - there is a service road for you to park in.
Clue 2 - (S33 56.630 E18 29.797) In this little close the charming thatch cottage was the home of Pieter-Dirk Uys (Evita Bezuidenhout) – what is its number (C). This is also the area where the farm Uitvlugt was sited where in 1875 Langalibalele, chief of the amaHlubi tribe was exiled. He had collected a small arsenal and when he refused to register the arms with the British he was sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island for treason. It was on the intervention of Bishop Colenso that he was instead sent to Uitvlugt farm along with two sons and two of his seventy wives. The farm next to Uitvlugt was Oude Molen (where Alexandria Hospital is now sited) – it was there that Cetshwayo, the last Zulu king was sent in 1881 after his defeat by the British at the battle of Ulundi this after the disastrous battle of Isandlwana where the British were defeated and Rorkes Drift where the British just held out against the Zulus. The two chiefs spent many hours talking and hunting in the area that is now Pinelands. In 1935 the skeletons of two Zulu retainers were unearthed during roadworks in the area.
Clue 3 - (S33 56.486 E18 29.837) is where a monument has been erected to commemorate the oldest section of Pinelands. Unfortunately the two plaques commemoration the proclamation of the area have fallen victim to vandals and the clue has had to be reinstated using the remaining small plaque.
The good news is both plaques have been replaced using non-metalic material and hopefully should last some time now
The plaque has the following description:
The Mead and Meadway were laid out in 1923 and the first house 3 Meadway completed in 1923. This area was part of the Uitvlugt Forest Reserve donated by the State to the Pinelands Garden Cities Trust shortly after it was formed in 1918 by the Honourable Richard Stuttaford. The Mead and Meadway were developed in accordance with the original layout of Pinelands which was prepared in 1919 by Thompson Hennell and James Architects of London. They were associated with the first two Garden Cities established in Britain through the efforts of Ebenezer Howard. A forerunner of contemporary townplanning and the originator of the new town and garden city concepts. The Pinelands layout plan was the first town planning scheme prepared in South Africa and formed the basis for South Africa’s first and subsequent town planning legislation. The Mead and Meadway and their buildings were proclaimed a National Monument in 1982 following joint representations by Garden Cities, The Pinelands Ratepayers’ Association and the Municipality of Pinelands. - National Monuments Council 1982.
The oldest house (No 3) referred to is the house on the corner to your left as you are reading the plaque. When was the plaque unveiled F2 April 1DE3.
The little plaque has been stolen - last time it was the two large ones, but they have been replaced with plastic ones - the date you need here is 22 April 1983
Clue 4 - (S33 56.399 E18 29.818) Is the actual foundation stone of Pinelands, it was laid by J.C. Smuts who was Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa at the time. It used to have a sundial on top before the vandals got hold of it – however it not the dial we need here but some of the info from the monument. Again the sundial has been reinstated - only to be stolen again! Which month (G) was the stone laid? .
Clue 5 - (S33 56.341 E18 29.882) finds another plaque which indicates what these gardens commemorate - here you need the second date 19(H)5?
Both plaques have been stolen - they were plastic! The date you need here is 1945.
Clue 6 - (S33 56.268 E18 29.875) Of the eleven churches in Pinelands the first was the Anglican Church or to give its official title the Anglican Church of South Africa . The original little church has been superceded by the new building next door, but the original church is still here – there is a cornerstone visible from the parking area. When was the stone laid - 192(K)?
(S33 56.107 E18 30.770) on the way to the final – no clue to be found here – is where the Elsieskraal River crosses Howard Drive. The river which rises in the Tygerberg Hills beyond Bellville near Durbanville has been largely canalised to avoid flooding, but in days gone by there used to be fish and terrapin in the original river and a wonderful play area for the youth of Pinelands.
Final - (S33 56.FKB E18 ((CxB)+A).ABF) Number EB will be useful to you as will be FHGK.