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Fort Durnford
Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal
ROYAL ENGINEERS: Engineer
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Contact Artefacts | MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | Fort Durnford ROYAL ENGINEERS: Engineer | | ||||||
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Click to view map Coordinates: | Today this impressive fort houses a museum. Standing high above the Bushmans River, it is a reminder of troubled times long passed. T H S S Estcourt was a member of the British House of Commons who had sponsored the settling of immigrants in the district, which necessitated the construction of rough defences against local marauders. But in 1873 Langalibalele's defiance of Colonial authority made it necessary for a more permanent form of defence to be built, so Fort Durnford was erected on a koppie. As a result of these troubles in Zululand the Natal Mounted Police were formed, originally acting as the bodyguard of the British Resident Commissioner, Sir Melmoth Osborn. Also, a commission was set up to investigate the defences of the Colony, resulting in the building of several blockhouses and laagers during the 1870s. Colonel Durnford, RE, was responsible for the design of the fort. At that time he held the rank of Captain and had temporarily assumed the office of Colonial Engineer, following the retirement of Patterson and prior to the arrival of Captain Hime, RE. Fort Durnford is an interesting example of a late 19th-century form of defence, presumably built to the specifications laid down by the ROYAL ENGINEERS for use in the colonies. Constructed of sandstone, it was built by British soldiers and was the largest of the Natal fortifications. Surrounded by a ditch which, according to the original plans could be flooded as a moat, the fort was entered by means of a drawbridge leading through to stout iron-plated doors. There was ample stabling, provision for a courtroom, officers' mess, armoury and strongroom - each made homely by the presence of fireplaces. The devices for the fort's defence were several and ingenious, but in fact were never put to the test; the mere presence of this twin-towered fortification kept the peace. (Picton-Seymour, 1989: 143) Transcript of National Monuments Council plaque:
It is a substantial fort with walls that are two feet (0,6m) thick and 30 feet (9m) high and heavily barred windows throughout, originally fitted with iron shutters set on hinges spiked to the walls. Under the fort there are various tunnels that allowed the British to move supplies through the area and used as a hidden escape route into the hills. (Battlefield Wanderers accessed 2024 04 26) It was declared a National Monument in 1980 and is now a Provincial Heritage Site. Books that reference Fort Durnford
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