Tag Archives: james fichat

Colonial History of Knysna 1770-1890 (Part 3 – Magistracy)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The History of Knysna – Knysna becomes a Seat of Magistracy: By 1848 the population of, what was to become the village of Knysna, excluding the families of the gentleman farmers, viz. Rex, Duthie and Barrington, and their retainers, consisted of a tiny (white) population of only 10 adults and 5 children! But the character of Knysna was soon to change. In 1847 John Sutherland built a stone school building and by 1855 there were 55 school children attending class. The building of the school was closely followed by the … Read the full article…

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Knysna History: Melrose House/The Convent

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The lot on which this double-story building stands was originally part of the farm Melkhoutkraal bought on the death of George Rex by John Sutherland who in turn sold it to Maria Stroebel in 1860. This building was hired by the Colonial Office, from Hendrik Stroebel, and used as Government Offices and as a Courthouse by Knysna’s first magistrate, James Fichat (until the early 1880’s when Magistrate Jackson moved to what is now the Police Station in Main Street). The building then became the Residency for Magistrate Jackson. The Standard … Read the full article…

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History: The Old Gaol (1858)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

In 1858 the Governor of the Cape Colony directed that that all Divisional Councils obtain plans for the building of a gaol (jail), which was particularly relevant to Knysna due to the need to house convict labour needed for the planned mountain Langkloof mountain pass known today as the Prince Alfred Pass. The first convicts arrived in August 1858 to build the gaol that was sited on 4 lots of land purchased from John Sutherland for L56. Building work commenced in 1859 to a gaol designed to hold 30 prisoners, … Read the full article…

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History: Knysna Library (1893)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Built at a cost of £1250, on land purchased from William Lloyd for £65, this sandstone building replaced an earlier public reading room of timber construction which stood on the corner of Main (previously called Church Street) and Long Streets. Built in 1858, during the tenure of the first magistrate Mr James Fichat, Mayor C.W. Thesen opened the present library building, with its west wing only. Built by Cooper & Rogers of Oudtshoorn with roofing erected by local carpenter, Andrew Hepburn, of The Knysna Forest Company, on 28 November 1893.

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