A little unkempt, but Old Fort’s gardens still a city refuge
The garden of the Old Fort is a surprise quiet and leafy green lung in the heart of the city, a stone’s throw away from the Hollywood Bets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium and across the road from St John Ambulance and Eye Care in what was Old Fort Road, now KE Masinga Road.
The Old Fort is one of the city’s historical landmarks. It is the site of conflict between disaffected Dutch farmers, emigrating from the Cape, and British troops. It comprises extensive gardens, barracks, magazine, historical relics and the comprehensive and well looked after Warriors Gate MOTH Museum – which is well worth a visit.
Today’s photograph was taken on the little walkway between what was the barracks and the chapel.
The Old Fort was built in 1842 as part of a campaign by the British Empire to prevent Boers from establishing a republic in the then Natal. According to the well preserved and beautifully rendered information tiles at the entrance: “A small British force under Captain T Charlton Smith of the 27th Regiment was beleaguered by the emigrant Boers under commandant Andries Pretorius in 1842. To secure relief for the garrison, Dick King rode 600 miles to Grahamstown. From 1842 to 1987 it was occupied by various regiments and detachments of the British army.”
The facility was equipped with an arsenal and barracks in 1858 and troops were stationed there until the end of the century.
Built in 1858, the building on the right was originally the fort’s magazine. In time, the Old Fort was handed over to the Durban Light Infantry, its magazine was converted into the Chapel of St Peter in Chains and the inner courtyard was made into a garden. For decades, many Durban weddings and christenings have taken place there. It is still a functioning chapel with magnificent stain glass windows, although the historic tablets and brasses to commemorate the likes of Dick King and John Ross have been stolen over the years.
The beautiful Victorian streetlights are still shining brightly, and the lush gardens are still in place and a playground for a large troop of monkeys. On display just out of the frame of the photo is a gun from the wreck of the Grosvenor, which sank on August 4, 1782, as well as a timber seat from the Southampton war ships. Although the grounds are disappointingly neglected, helpful plaques along the way are still in place to help visitors learn about the Old Fort and its unique history.
The military cemetery, where the tombs of men who lost their lives during the siege of 1842 are located, forms part of this complex. It was declared a National Monument on April 6, 1936.
The Independent on Saturday team spent some time in the beautiful gardens, realising what a valuable resource this is for the people of Durban – an accessible park with great historical significance, close to the CBD. It would be amazing if the city officials could put more time, thought and effort into restoring it to its former beauty so it could be enjoyed by all.