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From: "Becky Horne" <>
Subject: [ZA-EC] Newspaper cuttings from the Eastern Cape - Gamtoos river
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 22:40:47 +0200


Algoa Sun, 9 August 2007
Historic Gamtoos
'It is the only piece of ground permitted to be developed on the Gamtoos
river'
by Alison Canter
[edited].

The landmark Gamtoos Ferry Hotel and Resort on the banks of the Gamtoos
River and 18km from Jeffrey's Bay will soon
have new a new owner. Situated on the eastern bank of the free-flowing
river - renowned for its large kob - the hotel is a well-known
watering-hole for many a pub-lover living in the vicinity.

Currently heading up the establishment, which is a kilometre away from
the Gamtoos bridge on the N2, are owners
Karel VOGELBRUCK and wife Anna. "We will miss certain things as it has
been a part of our lives for so long," said Karel. who has decided to
"take a break" after 22 years in the hospitality industry to recover
from an illness. He said the best part of the hotel, which is 50km from
Port Elizabeth, was the tranquillity and the fact that "the river has
been kind to fishermen".

The hotel dates back to 1844 when an Englishmen, Martin BERESFORD, hired
ground from local farmer James SMITH and
imported a prefabricated house from America and built a trading store on
the current hotel site. BERESFORD then built
a ferry to cart people to his trading store, and due to the frequent
floods, identified the opportunity to build an hotel for the residents
who could not get back to dry land.

The original single carriage-way bridge, built in 1895, is still
standing.

I'm not sure who the Martin BERESFORD was as I have two:
Martin John Geayes BERESFORD, s.o. Martin John BERESFORD

Extracts from Grahamstown Journal Oct-Dec 1847
Saturday November 6 1847
Died on the 16th October, Martin John BERESFORD Esq, formerly of Quarry
Place, Boughton, Monchelsea in the County of Kent (England), after a
lingering illness of several months. Aged 59 years, leaving a wife, four
sons and three daughters to deeply lament his loss.

Best wishes
Becky

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