Graaff-Reinet : Cemetery

On our way back into town from the Gideon Scheepers Monument we drove past an old cemetery and wanted to visit.  We have visited a few other cemeteries in the Eastern Cape and most are in very bad shape due to vandalism and neglect.  This cemetery was locked with a notice on the gate with 4 places where the key could be found (including the tourism office).  I think it is a very good solution because a) the cemetery is protected and b) visitors can still access the cemetery.

We fetched the key at the tourism office and went back to the cemetery.  The cemetery was in a better condition than others we have visited but the grass and weeds were growing everywhere. 

We started to walk around in Block A with the oldest graves and then through the rest.  (I had an unfortunate encounter with a thorn bush and ended with my right shoe and sock full of small thorns.  A few days later I was still finding some of them in the shoes)

 

The grave in the photo above on the right is from one of the original 1820 British Settlers.  The inscription is protected with a piece of glass.  It reads as follow:

"IN MEMORY OF

CHRISTIAN GEORGE OCHSE

BORN LONDON 15/2/1800

DIED 2/8/1845

WIFE ANN MUNDAY

BORN MILLSOM WILTSHIRE ENGLAND 8/9/1799

DIED 23/11/1881

ARRIVED SHIP 'BRILLIANT'

15th MAY, 1820 - ALGOA BAY"

The amount of graves of children was very sad.  One section of the graveyard had a lot of similar headstones for children.  The dates on these graves were from 1854 to 1860 and the ages of the children ranged from babies to about 9 years old.  Some headstones had the names of 2 or 3 children from the same families that died close to each other.

We walked around for about 40 minutes in the cemetery taking pictures of interesting headstones and the beautiful mountains that surrounds the town.  When we left as about 13:15 we were warm and hungry.  We headed to the Coldstream Restaurant for lunch.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

Graaff-Reinet Tourism

Address:                       13A Church Street, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa

Tel No:                          +27 49 892 4248

Visiting Hours:               Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 17:00

                                    Saturday: 09:00 – 12:00

                                    Sunday & Public Holidays : Closed

Graaff-Reinet Cemetery

Address:                       Cradock Street, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa

Visiting Hours:               Keys are held at the Tourism Office

                                    See above for address and opening hours