HP0017

Did You Know?

The stone-built water trough (waterkrip) near the stone dam and well on a farm in the Hay District, close to Niekerkshoop in the Northern Cape, dates to around 1890. This period corresponds with the expansion of sheep farming and the construction of permanent water infrastructure in the semi-arid Karoo region. Stone troughs and dams were essential for livestock watering, often built by farmers using local materials. The site is now overgrown with bushes but remains well-preserved, reflecting the durable construction techniques of the era. Niekerkshoop itself was established in the late 19th century as a small settlement serving the surrounding farming community, with the Dutch Reformed Church built in 1898. The Hay District, named after colonial official Sir John Hay, was known for its extensive sheep farms and reliance on boreholes and surface water storage.

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