Did You Know?
The Rice Blockhouse at the railway bridge in De Aar, Northern Cape, is a Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) fortification. De Aar was a key railway junction on the Cape Town–Kimberley–Bulawayo line, making it strategically vital for British forces. The blockhouse was part of a network of prefabricated corrugated iron and stone structures built to protect railway bridges and lines from Boer commando raids. It is named after the Rice family, who owned the land or were involved in its construction. The blockhouse is a rare surviving example of a 'Rice' type, characterized by its cylindrical or square design with loopholes for rifle fire. It was likely erected in 1900 during the British occupation of De Aar, which began in November 1899. The site is now a provincial heritage resource, though specific details about its exact construction date and military use are limited.
AI-assisted · may contain inaccuracies