Fort of Good Hope
Former fortification in Cape Town
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Fort of Good Hope (Dutch: Ford de Goede Hoop) was the first military building to be erected in what is now Cape Town. It was built in 1652, and was in use until 1674[1] when it was superseded by the Castle of Good Hope.
| Fort of Good Hope | |
|---|---|
Ford de Goede Hoop | |
| Cape Town, South Africa | |
A model of the fort as it would have appeared in the 1650s | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fort |
| Location | |
  Fort of Good Hope Location in the Western Cape | |
| Coordinates | 33°55′27″S 18°25′27″E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1652 |
| Built by | Dutch East India Company |
| Materials | Earth and timber |
| Demolished | Late 17th century |
History
The Fort was built by the Dutch East India Company, when it established a replenishment station under Jan van Riebeeck on the shore of Table Bay in 1652.[2] Constructed of earth and timber, it was square, with a pointed bastion at each corner. The bastions were named Drommedaris, Walvisch, Oliphant, and Reijger.[3] The bastions were named after the ships in Van Riebeeck's fleet.
Within the Fort were living quarters, kitchens, a council chamber (which was also used for church services), a sick bay, workshops, and storerooms. Cannons were placed on the ramparts. A nearby stream was diverted and channeled to form a moat around the fort. Being built of earth, the Fort needed frequent maintenance and repairs, especially after heavy rains.[3]
In January 1666, work began on a stone fortress to replace the Fort. It took eight years to build, and it was not until 1674 that it was ready for occupation. On 2 May 1674, the council resolved to demolish the Fort, except for some stores which were retained for a while longer, until their contents had been moved into the Castle.[3]
The Fort is sometimes confused with the Redoubt Duijnhoop, which was built some distance away, at the mouth of the Salt River, in 1654.[citation needed]
In 1732 the first Masonic lodge in South Africa was erected, Lodge De Goede Hoop, which was a branch of the Premier Grand Lodge of England.[4][5][6][7][8]