AE865a
Archival report for the heritage impact assessment on the remainder of portion 2 of the farm Paardekraal 226 IQ, Roodepoort
Summary
Archaetnos cc was requested by Industrial Zone Limited to conduct an archival investigation for the purpose of a Heritage Impact Assessment on the remainder of portion 2 of the farm Paardekraal 226 IQ, Roodepoort. This specifically is aimed at obtaining more background information regarding an old mine cemetery on the property.
The report deals with the findings after a survey have been conducted in the Deeds Office in Pretoria as well as the National Archives Repository in Pretoria. The webpage of the City of Johburg (of which Roodepoort forms part) was also consulted as well as some other historical sources.
The farm was registered in 1866, but it probably was established as early as the 1840?s. Gold was apparently already discovered here in 1852. It seems as if large scale mining activities only started here in 1890.
The cemetery is next to a clinic which used to be a mine hospital. Therefore information regarding mine cemeteries and hospitals were also searched for. Although very little specific information regarding the cemetery under investigation could be obtained, valuable insight into mortality records at mine hospitals was collected.
It is concluded that the cemetery probably dates to the earlier to middle part of the 20th century. The report gives an overview of the history obtained.
Report by
Dr. A.C. van Vollenhoven (L. Akad. S.A.) BA, BA (Hons), DTO, NDM, MA (UP), MA (US), DPhil (UP), Man Dip [TUT]