Page 87 - Bulletin 19 2015

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Simon’s Bay) as a suitable anchorage, made a record in the Dagboek. He had met three

armed company’s servants and a slave, all stationed at the Steenberg silver mines. He
interrogated them to find out why they were so far from their post; they replied that they were

searching for a band of runaway slaves who had burgled their hut at the silver mine (Burman,
1977.). Johann Vogel, a DEIC employee and visitor to the Cape, stayed in this hut in March

1688, not long after mining operations had ceased (Spargo, 2010.). It was probably still in

existence in 1699/1700 when hunting and grazing rights in the valley were granted to
Oortmans and Van der Stel, and could have been used as a shelter at the time.

The position of these foundations is interesting: any structure built on them would have been
protected from behind, as it is at the base of the slope on the western side of the valley, the

site commands an excellent view both down and up the valley (Figs. 2.14 & 2.15), and it is
positioned almost exactly in the centre between the western and eastern mine adits (Fig.

2.16). Could these foundations be those of the original mine hut? If so, they could be the
remains of the oldest dwelling in the southern peninsula. In 1687 the first fishing rights were

granted in False Bay. Only after this was a watch house built, now Uitkyk situated above the

Jager Walk at Fish Hoek beach, to ensure that the fishing was carried out in an orderly
fashion. Up to the present Uitkyk has usually been considered to be the oldest structure in the

south. These foundations in the Silvermine Valley certainly warrant an archaeological
investigation.

Die Kruithuis

The ruins known as Die Kruithuis, or Powder House, are a prominent feature of the
Silvermine Valley. (Figs. 2.17 – 2.20) Situated beneath a steep natural redoubt, Blokhuiskop,

on the south-east side of the valley, the ruins consist of a windowless store-room with

extremely thick walls, with an old farmhouse built almost adjacent to it (Fig. 2.21.) They are
well positioned, as Blokhuiskop protects the structure from behind and acts as an excellent

windbreak from summer south-easters. As the ruins have always been referred to as Die
Kruithuis, many have assumed that the original store-room was built to protect explosives for

the silver mines of 1685 - 88. However, there are at least two counter-arguments to this;
firstly, the ruin is situated on the opposite side of the valley from two of the diggings, and is a

considerable distance from all three of them. Secondly, and more importantly, in May 1994,