GC2AME7 Fort Amiel View (Traditional Cache) in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa created by THE BLESSED 4

This cache has been archived.

Knagur Green: Due to no response from the CO after the request to maintain or replace the cache, I am archiving it to, stop it showing on the listings and/or to create place for the geocaching community.

The Geocache Maintenance guideline explains a CO's responsibility towards checking and maintaining the cache when problems are reported.

Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival. This is explained in the Help Center

If the CO feels that this cache has been archived in error please feel free to contact me within 30 days, via email or message via my profile ,quoting the GC number concerned

Thank you for understanding

Knagur Green
Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer

GC2AME7 ▼

A cache by THE BLESSED 4 Message this owner

Hidden : 6/22/2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is outside the museum. OPEN TIMES: Mon to Fri 10h00 to 16h00 Sat 10h00 to 13h00 ENTERANCE IS FREE.

Fort Amiel was built in 1876 by Major Charles Frederick Amiel and some 200 men of the 80th Staffordshire Volunteers in the prelude to the annexation of the Transvaal and the Zulu War. The Fort was to serve as a commissariat depot, transit camp, and hospital during the Zulu War and the Transvaal War of Independence. Constructed on a knoll overlooking the original wagon drift across the Ncandu River the Fort had a good view over the original town of Newcastle.The Fort was sold off in 1882 and fell into disuse. During the Anglo-Boer War the knoll and all the surrounding ground was occupied by the British who again used it as a transit camp, military hospital and commissariat. Restoration only started in 1979 after the site had been declared a National Monument. The discovery of the original plans in a London Museum gave impetus to the restoration work. Restoration work was undertaken by the Newcastle Town Council in conjunction with the Natal Museum Services. The discovery of the plans assisted greatly in establishing the uses of the various buildings and excavations on the site revealed the foundations of the Magazine, Shell store, and R.E. Store.The buildings were rebuilt on these foundations in 1986. The last of the buildings to be completed were the Officers’ Quarters and the Cook house which were demolished brick by brick and reconstructed. Today, Fort Amiel houses an historic/cultural museum. Military displays concentrate on the two Anglo-Boer Wars. The display period room depicts the career of Sir Rider Haggard, author of “King Solomon’s Mines” and the Cookhouse is typical of those found at British Army Bases in the 1880’s. The Fort’s canteen houses clothing, bric-a-brac and old photographs from Newcastle’s colourful past while the Guard House has a display of the 80th Regiment and furniture used by the Quartermaster, Captain Perrin. A recent addition to the Fort is a Zulu Umuzi (hut) with a detailed interior. The current Curator is Louis Eksteen who can be contacted on Tel: 034 328 7621 9 or 072 238 1983.