Jamestown, also known as Webersvallei ("Weber's Valley") and Mountain View, is a quiet rural settlement located on the southern outskirts of Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands District of the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Vineyards in Stellenbosch, South Africa
Origins and Founding
The village was named after James Rattray (1859-1938), a Stellenbosch businessman who owned a butchery in Dorp Street. He was the grandson of Scottish teacher James Rattray (c. 1795-1864) who immigrated to the Cape Colony in 1822, one of several British people recruited to the colony by Scottish missionary George Thom at the request of the governor Lord Charles Somerset. In 1902, James Rattray and Rhenish missionary Jacob Weber (1856-1937), who was born in Lennep in Germany and sent to Stellenbosch in 1882, acquired a portion of the Blaauwklippen farm.
On 1 May 1902 - shortly after the Boer War - Rhenish missionary Jacob Weber and local businessman, James Rattray, acquired two sections of the farm then known as Blaauwklip. Original housing was built next to the unique narrow waterway erven that flowed outwards from the Webersvallei Road.
The land was divided into 25 large plots, which were leased to members of the Rhenish Church and eventually became their property. Over the years these properties have been handed down from father to son, thus maintaining a strong family village atmosphere.
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Rhenish Missionary Influence
Despite Weber's role in the establishment of Jamestown, it is not a mission station per se. The Rhenish Mission Church built in 1823 is situated next to Die Braak, the common in the Stellenbosch town center. A small church was inaugurated in Jamestown in 1923, which initially also served as a school for the area.
The Braak in Stellenbosch
Evolution and Development
Jamestown has evolved from an agricultural village into a residential one. Residents now seek work outside the boundaries of Jamestown. The church bought the land at the Blaauwklippen farm and offered plots to its members on which they could farm. The plots were made available on an annual lease agreement. The original 25 families who obtained these plots farmed with vegetables and fruits. They were also taught to grow strawberries, but it was difficult to make a living and the land regularly changed ownership.
Jamestown was one of the first places in the Cape where strawberry farming was conducted on a large scale. The streets are named after strawberry cultivars.
The virus-free strawberry plants come from the Koue Bokkeveld. There are three types, the selector that must be planted in April, then there is the thiobell that is planted in May, and the parfait that is planted at the end of June. One type of strawberry is ripe by the end of August. It is then picked and prepared for the market and the cafes. This activity then lasts until the end of January. After that, the plants are taken out. According to Mr. Van der Rheede, the plants are not used again because they will bear a weaker grade of strawberry.
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Some of the villagers served in the Second World War. In 1946 JGC Williams opened the General Dealer in Webersvallei Road, which closed its doors in 2012 when his sons retired. The 1970s saw the first tarred road and the arrival of electricity for those who could afford it.
Apartheid Era
Jamestown was designated a coloured area under apartheid segregation laws, and the majority of the residents were not subjected to forced removals.
Community and Culture
Dominoes were traditionally played by the men in the village. The Burnley soccer club established in 1932 and the Young Gardens soccer club in 1940 merged in 1973 to form Jamestown Aurora Athletic Football Club. Jamestown has a long musical tradition which is a source of community pride.
Who were the Jamestown Colonists and are you Related to Them?
Key Events in Jamestown's History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1822 | James Rattray immigrates to the Cape Colony. |
| 1823 | The Rhenish Mission Church is built in Stellenbosch. |
| 1902 | James Rattray and Jacob Weber acquire a portion of the Blaauwklippen farm. |
| 1923 | A small church is inaugurated in Jamestown, also serving as a school. |
| 1932 | The Burnley soccer club is established. |
| 1940 | The Young Gardens soccer club is established. |
| 1946 | JGC Williams opens the General Dealer in Webersvallei Road. |
| 1973 | The Burnley and Young Gardens soccer clubs merge to form Jamestown Aurora Athletic Football Club. |
| 2012 | JGC Williams General Dealer closes after years of service. |
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