Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Rice Pattern Blockhouse, War Museum of the Boer Republics Bloemfontein, Free State ROYAL ENGINEERS: Architect

Date: c1899 Type: Rice Pattern Blockhouse Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 29°08'21.07" S 26°12'33.91" E Alt: 1415m

See more photographs Wording on information board: HERBOUDE BRITSE BLOKHUIS UIT DIE ANGLO-BOEREOORLOG, 1899-1902 Hierdie sinkblokhuis het oorspronklik noord-oos van Naval Hill, Bloemfontein gestaan en het waarskynlik die treinspoor na die noorde en die nabygeleë Britse militêre kamp beskerm. Die oorspronklike materiaal is weer gebruik met die rekonstruksie van die blokhuis. A RECONSTRUCTED BRITISH BLOCKHOUSE FROM THE ANGLO-BOER WAR, 1899-1902 This corrugated iron blockhouse originally stood on the north-eastern side of Naval Hill, Bloemfontein and was most probably used to protect the railway line to the North and the British Military camp in the vicinity. The original material was used during the reconstruction. ______________________ The second blockhouse type, known as the Rice Pattern, was more suited to the military situation unfolding in South Africa during 1901. These corrugated iron blockhouses were named after Major SR RICE of the Royal Engineers who Lord Kitchener appointed to devise a more cost effective and mass producible method. Each Rice pattern blockhouse cost approximately £16 and took its garrison of between 7 - 10 men one day to erect. References: Green, Simon C . 2022. Anglo-Boer War blockhouses : a field guide. Johannesburg: Porcupine Press. pg 57-58