In pre-colonial times, the indigenous Khoi people inhabited the area now known as Mamre. In the 1700's permission was granted by the Dutch East India Company to farmers to graze their cattle in this area, then known as Groenekloof. Between 1701 and 1791 a permanent military outpost was maintained to deal with the problems arising from the contact between the farmers and the indigenous inhabitants.
In 1806, the Cape passed into the possession of the British. The Earl of Caledon, the Governor at the time, asked the Moravian missionaries based at Genadendal, to establish a second mission station at Groenekloof. The government farm De Kleine Post and the adjoining Louwskloof and Cruijwagenskraal were given to the Moravians for this purpose. In 1854, the Moravians renamed the area as Mamre. The Moravian converts were, from 1808, allowed to settle on the land close to the church, the origins of the present day Mamre.
The complex which includes a church, school, cook house and long house (former barracks) was declared a National Monument in 1967. The water mill was declared a national monument in 1973. The main group of buildings is still owned, administered and used by the Moravian Church.
The Mamre Mission Station is the fifth oldest church building in South Africa. The building was completed in 1818 although the gospel was first preached from beneath the poplar trees of Louwskloof in 1808. The date 18 February 1818 can still be found on the original pediment. The Church Bell is a hanging artwork of 250 kg with certain biblical text verses inscribed on the bell, written in Dutch. The four angels motif is placed at the top watching over the bell.
The date on the Gable of the Parsonage is 1679, which makes this building the oldest in Mamre. This building served as a home, place of religious services and education for the children. In the early years it belonged to the Dutch East India Company, a hunting lodge for Adriaan van der Stel and finally was home to the missionaries.
In 1830 a horse mill was built to grind corn for bread making. In 1839 the horse mill was replaced by a water mill. In 1873, a steam engine was used to turn the mill along with the water, which was replaced with a diesel engine. The mill stopped operating in December 1954. Currently access to this area is restricted.
The Cook House dates back to 1700. It was used as a police station and a jail for a short period of time. The architecture of the building from an old photograph shows the chimney on the left gable. The fireplace inside is still on the left side, but for some unknown reason, the chimney is at present in the middle of the roof. It now serves as a kitchen in times of festivities.
The long house is a long building with six front doors and six windows. The centre of the building has an attractive concavo-convex gable. It is a stone building with thick walls which are plastered in front. This building was used as barracks by soldiers of the Dutch East India Company in the early years.
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The cache is in plain sight. Mostly the area is deathly quiet and not a soul would be around. But sometimes a snapshot tourist or a wandering local might be nearby. In that case, activate stealth mode and make sure you don't get spied upon. Thanks for visiting this historical little village.