BH0007

Did You Know?

The Blokhuis near Merriman, located between Richmond and Hutchinson in the Northern Cape, is a concrete blockhouse constructed around 1900 during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). This type of fortification was built by British forces to protect key railway infrastructure, as the area was part of the strategic Cape-to-Cairo railway line. The use of concrete, rather than the more common stone or corrugated iron, reflects experimental construction methods employed in remote regions where traditional materials were scarce. The blockhouse's design typically included loopholes for rifle fire and a flat roof, serving as a defensive post against Boer commando raids.

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