LOCATION: The Caledon District – Vaalplaas, Dieprivier
LEADER: Anton Roux, Avril Paterson
The outing took place in perfect weather, starting off with a visit to Vaalplaas, where we were met by Mr. & Mrs. Lampie Fick, whose family have farmed here for 200 years. Lampie Fick was a well known farmer, businessman and politician and, latterly, author of the book ‘In die koelte van Eergister’ which traces the history of the family and its connections to the Caledon area.
We were taken to see the ruins of the original longhouse and then went on the look over the extensive ruins of the Victorian werf where there are plans to do some restoration work.
From here we went on to Dieprivier farm on the road to Genadendal.
This proved to be fascinating with the remains of the old mill and the mill race as well as a very interesting farmhouse.
Dieprivier was granted in 1833 to Antonie Keyter and it then included an older house. The gable is dated 1821, and the house is one of the very few houses that date from those early days in the Caledon district.
The house is entered between the wings of the incomplete H-shaped house, possibly an early alteration.
The kitchen and the access to the attic all held tantalising clues of changes made over time. Including original doors, a pair of muurkaste and a nineteenth century fireplace.
It is unusual in not having a front gable, but rather elaborate end gables which, also unusually, are dated.
Hans Fransen refers to two muurkaste with curved tops in the voorkamer. The entrance has been moved and is now between the two parallel wings.
