Bedford

Bedford was named after the Duke of Bedford

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Bedford is surrounded by the Kaga Mountains, and about 100Km in a straight line from the Indian Ocean.

Game viewing, photographic safaris, bird watching.

The town has many historical buildings from the 1800s.

There is an Bedford Garden Festival during which time the beautiful local gardens are on puiblic display.

Things to do

A variety of sport related activities are on offer in Bedford: hiking, mountain biking, horse trails, fishing (Bass), hunting, para-sailing.

Tennis, bowls, cricket, soccer, rugby, and a 9-hole golf course.

The Mill Cricket Club is one of the oldest cricket pitches in the Eastern Cape. It was once a flour mill.

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History

The earliest known humans living in the area were the San (previously known as Bushmen) and the Koekoe tribes (previously known as Hottentot).

In the late 1700 Xhosa people began to move into the area from the northeast, while colonial Europeans began to move in from the west. Sporadic "wars" or rather fights occurred between the frontier colonists and the Xhosa tribes in between 1779 and 1781. In 1779 the Dutch authorities negotiated a boundary with some Xhosa chiefs. The boundary ran along the Fish River more or less to where Cookhouse is located today.

The first town in the greater area was Graaff-Reinet, established in 1786 by the Dutch.

A second fight occurred in 1793. The pioneer farmers, unhappy with the manner in which the Dutch authorities handled the matter, seized Graaff-Reinet and declared their independence from the Cape of Good Hope as a republic.

Meanwhile in Europe France invaded Holland and the Dutch consequently lost the Cape of Good Hope to England in 1795. The British now began their rule of southern Africa, with a short break after the Treaty of Amiens (France) signed in 1802 - the Cape was returned to the Netherlands on 1 March 1803, but this lasted only three years. In 1799, when Sir George Yonge (1799 - 1801) was Governor of the Cape of Good Hope under the British, the frontier farmers attempted to declare independence from the British, but did not succeed.

In 1815 the magistrate (landdros) of Somerset East attempted to arrest a farmer (boer) for contempt of court. A scuffle broke out with one farmer killed, which lead to an uprise. This unrest was suppressed by Colonel Jacob Glen Cuyler, an American in the British army. He hanged five of the farmers at Slagtersnek. Four of the ropes broke, but Cuyler sent for other ropes and all five farmers were eventually killed.

In 1820 English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish settlers arrived in the area. General Sir Rufane Donkin was the acting governor from 1820 to 1821. Altogether about 4'000 British settled in the Eastern Cape. The Scottish were settled in the Baviaans River Mountains, while the English were settled south in the Albany district.

By 1834, when Sir Benjamin D'Urban was governor, a large group of 15'000 Xhosas invaded the area because of a major drought. In 1835 many farmers of Dutch decent decided to leave the area and ventured further north. They were known as the Voortrekkers (meaning first pioneers). One of the leaders was Piet Retief whose farm was destroyed during the skirmishes with Xhosas in 1834 and who was also now in bad debt because of a failed business.

Sir Perigrine Maitland was governor from 1844 to 1847, during which time (in 1846) Xhosas again invaded the area with large herds of cattle captured and properties destroyed.

In 1850, when Sir Harry Smith was governor (1847-1852), a more intense "war" raged for 18 months which resulted in even more destruction.

In 1854, during the governance of Sir George Grey (1854-1856), Bedford was laid out on the farm Maastrom, owned by Sir AJ Stockenstrom.

Nature

Bedford lies on the border of the WWF ecoregion of the Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets and the Great Karoo. The Winterberg mountain range lies to the north of Bedford. One type of cycad, the Encephalartos Cycadifolias, regarded as a prehistoric flower, is found only the Winterberg mountain range and the Baviaans River Valley.

Game found in the area: Kudu, Bushbuck, Springbok, Blesbok, Vaal Reebok, black Wildebeest.

In the mid 1800s Fallow Deer were imported from Europe, and they often roam the streets of Beford late at night.

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Economy

Farming: This area is a cattle and sheep area.

Events

Bedford Garden Festival takes place from 26 to 28 October 2007. The village has many beautiful gardens, particularly roses.

Restaurant

Stonehouse Café

The Stonehouse Cafe is small and cosy with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

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