Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal

Estcourt is a town located in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The main economic activity is farming with large bacon and processed food factories situated around the town. The N3 freeway goes through the town, linking it to the rest of South Africa.

In 1838 the Zulus under the orders of King Dingane kaSenzangakhona following the murder of Piet Retief attacked the Voortrekkers at Bloukrans, Rensburg Koppie, Saailaer, and Veghtlaager, which were all located around Estcourt. Hero Marthinus Oosthuizen saved a group of cornered Voortrekkers from a Zulu impi nearby at Rensburg Koppie. In the 1840s Clem Heeley built an inn and trading store at a ford on the Bushman’s River. In 1847 a military post known as Bushman's River Post was established on a hill dominating the ford, whilst at the same time a village known as Bushman's River was established across the river.

In 1861 it was decided to call the village Estcourt in honour of Englishman Thomas Estcourt, a North Wiltshire, MP who sponsored the immigration of settlers into the area under the Byrne immigration scheme. In 1872 an anglican church was built on the banks of the Bushman's River, and Fort Durnford was built in 1874. The fort became a substantial stronghold, and was used to protect transport riders and the herds of cattle driven across the ford. It is as secure as any castle with drinking water tanks in the basement, a drawbridge, moat and two secret tunnels. In 1885 the railway built a bridge across the Bushman’s River, The Old Natal Government Bridge is still in use today. The town's first government school was built in 1886. The Boers under the command of General Petrus Joubert pushed south past Estcourt in 1899 during the Boer War. In fact, Winston Churchill was captured by the Boers at Chievely between Estcourt and Colenso in November 1899 while he was on a reconnaissance mission out of Estcourt. Sir Frederick Moor, Natal premier and signatory to the "Act of the Union of South Africa" in 1910 lived here. Estcourt became a municipality in 1914. The Augustinian Order of Natal moved here in the 1890s and built a chapel here in 1929.

External links

* [http://www.estcourt.co.za Estcourt Home Page]