History Webs

For the Drakenstein Valley

Towns in a nutshell

Map

The Drakenstein Valley lies about 60km east of Cape Town, and is also referred to as the Upper Berg River Basin. The Berg River originates in Franschhoek's mountains, then flows through Paarl and past Wellington. If you have a reasonable internet connection, have a look on the following Google Map.

Volunteer

If you have an interest in local history, or have a specialist interest in a particular subject, and would like to publish it on this website, contact History Webs.

Updated

FRANCHHOEK The town's mountain pass was once little more than an animal track made by migrating elephants.

Interviewed

WELLINGTON: Marguerite Lombard interviews Edith Stephenson about her family's property in Bain Street.

Family history

For births, baptisms, marriages and family trees: the Drakenstein Heemkring in Paarl. French Huguenots in your family tree? Visit the Huguenot Society of SA in Franschhoek. See the Resources page for contact information and more links.

Wellington's forgotten wagonbuilders

Wellington was once known as "Wagenmakersvallei" or Valley of the Wagon builder(s), today there are very few reminders of this industry. Callie Theron's grandfather once own a workshop and forge in Wellington. He was one of a handful in the early 1900s (read on)

Paarl Mountain stories

The old ship's cannon on Paarl Rock was one of several used to signal the arrival of ships in Table Bay harbour, and to summon men to defend the Cape settlement. This particular cannon was stationed on Paarl Rock, but at a lookout point on the western side of Paarl Mountain.
Read also about old camping sites such as Christmas Camp and Oukraal, and about the link between the town's wagon building industry and the Jan Phillips Mountain Drive.