HERITAGE LETTER
Home Page
Heritage Letters

 Most of these editorials are offered to the press for publication in the Hout Bay and local press. The submitted articles are often shortened or edited by the publishers, which is their prerogative, however, articles here appear in full.

D.C.

HERITAGE DAY 24th Sept 2000 - The "Bain Cairn".

It was most fitting that Hout Bay & Llandudno should celebrate Heritage Day with a tribute to a great son of South Africa who was responsible for putting Hout Bay on the Map. Thomas Bain, son of Scotsman Andrew Geddes Bain, built Victoria Rd in 1887 and gave the farmers and fishermen of Hout Bay new markets for their produce on the Atlantic seaboard. Bain was truly remarkable and whilst he was completing Victoria Rd he simultaneously worked on the Swartberg Pass (his greatest work) and the Seven Passes Road from George to Knysna. These three jobs were 680km apart and yet Thomas managed to cope on horseback (though his superiors complained that he used 4 horses instead of the two officially allocated).  

Roy Peterson, Provincial Roads Engineer, unveiled the "Bain Cairn"  which incorporates a copy of Bain's tombstone generously donated by the Cultural History Museum of Cape Town. Bain was buried at St Thomas' Church Rondebosch after a life dedicated to his craft starting at the age of 16 when he worked with his father on the construction of Bains Kloof Pass. His contribution, of more than 23 mountain passes, far outstripped the accomplishments of his famous father and went a long way towards opening up the Cape Colony for the prosperity which followed.

This simple but important reminder of our heritage was facilitated by the Heritage Trust and project managed by Trustee Dr Ross Parry-Davies, a prominent Civil Engineer in his own right. The willingness of the SPM's Engineering Department to help fund the project demonstrates that even in these days of financial stringency, with a positive approach, communities and MLCs can find ways to preserve our heritage and boost our tourism potential which will in turn create jobs and fuel our economy. The "Bain Cairn" will rank with Hout Bay's Leopard and more recent "Anchors" as symbols of our cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations and we hope that the Heritage Trust will continue to safeguard and encourage the development of Hout Bay and Llandudno's unique identity.

D.C.

Provincial Roads Engineer Roy Petersen with Hout Bay Heritage Trustee Dr Ross Parry-Davies  in front of the "Bain Cairn"  with Sergeant Piper Eddie Morgan of the Cape Field Artillery in the background.

Home Page