During the Anglo Boer War British
troops were deployed near Basuto Hill – the area known as Wilgepark.
To enable the soldiers encamped in that area to reach the
town, a suspension bridge was built by the by the Royal Engineers for easy
crossing of the Wilge river.
The first suspension bridge
over the Wilge River was erected in 1900 by the Royal Engineers. Designed for
pedestrian traffic. The British soldiers would now have easy access into the
town from the area near the Basuto Hill.
The structure was washed away
in March 1904. By then the
regiments were gradually moving to barracks on King's Hill and complete repair
of the bridge seemed unnecessary. The troops made a temporary foot bridge of
planks resting on barrels.
Today, at the same spot, a
more sturdy structure, called the Hamilton Bridge, names after Sir Hamilton
Goold Adams, Governor of the then Orange River Colony, provides access to vehicular
traffic from the town crossing the Wilge River.
It was open to traffic on 7
August 1907.
In 1910 with the extension of the
President Brand Park toward the south the town council kept the tradition of a
suspension bridge and the existing suspension bridge was then built.
The urban area has increased over
the past decades and today there are new developments in this area. But the old
Hamilton will stand tall.
Thanks to Nico and Biebie for sharing their photo's
Till next time
Sandra
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