Volmoed Traditional Cache

AFRIKAANS

Die NG gemeente Volmoed, geleë 16 km suidwes van Oudtshoorn, is op die plaas Armoed gestig. Sedert 1908 het die eienaar van die plaas, mnr. W.G. Olivier, reeds 'n aanbod aan die kerkraad van Oudtshoorn gemaak van vyf morge grond en 'n kerkgebou van 700 sitplekke volgens 'n deur die kerkraad goedgekeurde plan. Hierdie kerkgebou sou hy op eie koste laat oprig met die oog op die stigting van 'n dorp op sy grond.

ENGLISH

The architect of this masterpiece is Watson Hall (1876 – 1941) and was ”compelled to come to South Africa for his health” arriving in Cape Town in 1897 at the age of 21.

He first worked as an assistant in the famous Sir Herbert Baker’s office in Cape Town before he became an assistant in John Parker’s office in Cape Town. He lived in Claremont since his arrival in 1897 until his departure to Oudtshoorn in 1908 where he practised until 1920.

In 1910 Hall won the competition for the Dutch Reformed Church in Calitzdorp but “owing to the dissatisfaction expressed by the congregation” the job went to the second prize winner, Wynand Louw. During 1920, at the age of 44, Watson Hall returned to Claremont.

At some point he was architect to the Rugby Union for a period of four years during which time he built stands at Newlands Rugby Grounds.

An interesting note in the Royal Institute of Britsh Arichtects (RIBA) states that Watson Hall did “nothing outstanding, but specialized in churches and schools.”

The gardener, Hendrik, knows about the cache.