S1 - Ep 347 - Windsorton - Past and Present Diamond Mining Activity!

[@gilmoreskinner7741]

Thanks for the video. I also grew up there. It is still my hometown. I was actually at home that weekend when the town hall burnt down. I could see it from our stoep. Very sad. You were very close to the grave of PF Windsor at the graveyard. Sadly, it seems like most of their descendants died within days of each other from the pandemic of about a 100 years ago, based on the dates and the mass graves. According to my gran, there were 7 butcheries, and 2 banks at one point in time.

[@bramprins229]

we love your trips so much

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, much appreciated! 🚙😁 We again love having you along for the ride!

[@HeatherSeagers]

I found this video amazing - I am the great grand daughter of Peter Ford Windsor

[@dewaldswanepoel2577]

Hi I'm from Windsorton and it was nice watching the whole video.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, it's so cool that you watched our video of your hometown! 😍 It was our pleasure to visit!

[@lizavanwyk-tait712]

Windsorton my little hometown!! the best memories i have as a child is from there still has family living there! The townhall was stunning andveveryone got married there i use to be great wedding parties!!! ❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

I appreciate you watching our video of your hometown! 🚙😍 It was a great experience visiting Windsorton. The Town Hall is a sad, but still beautiful, sight and I can only imagine it back in the day. It must've been absolutely magnificent! 🏛️ Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

[@ronnykenny3965]

Hi Dustbugs, very sad trip this was but @ the same time appreciate you taking us along, heartbreaking cemetry, wonder for how it'll still be there for before being completely destroyed by man & machine? Those arsonists have greed & poison in there hearts😢. 🚙🚙

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was very sad to see the burnt-out buildings and the graveyard, but we just had to focus on the gorgeous Spitskop Dam and the natural beauty which remains in the area. 🌊🌳 No good travelling while we're depressed all the time. 🤷🏻‍♂️🚙 Let's hope the powers-that-be in town ensure that the graves and the graveyard remain peaceful and undisturbed. 🏛️

[@hannesvanniekerk499]

Thank you again. A wonderful little out-of-the-way place. I wanted to see where you stayed.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Definitely an out-of-the-way place, that's for sure! We just love those! 🚙😁 You'll always see where we stay over, so be on the lookout for the next episode! 🏡🤩

[@terrimeyer3815]

Thank you for all the wonderful entertainment on the road 🎉

[@DustBugsTravel]

Anytime! 🥳 We're happy to entertain you every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for as long as you'll have us! 🚙🤩

[@terrencelowery7524]

So sad to see a town hall burnt down and destroyed.. 1928. 1928. Let that sink in. Heart breaking really like our beautiful train stations..

[@DustBugsTravel]

It sank in that day I walked around there already. Heartbreaking indeed. Five more years to go and the building is 100 years old. 😥 And, if the story is accurate, all because of greed, which makes it totally different from the neglected train stations for me. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mariusroos]

Very nice trip and we saw so much of a little town. Sad the buildings that are empty. And the town hall - what a sad story. The dam is huge and stunning. Thank you for this trip. I enjoyed it so much. We meet again on the next one.

[@DustBugsTravel]

There was indeed a lot to see on the way to Windsorton and in the little settlement itself. We thought it only consisted of the half we explored first, so were super surprised when we found the other half after I stocked up on some liquid refreshments for the evening! 😁🍻 The Town Hall is a sad, sad story and that greed caused the demise of such a beautiful building, really disturbed us. 😥🏛️ It would've been 100 years old soon and such a grand building should've been celebrated in style and not destroyed. We simply can not comprehend that. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♀️ We have to choose to focus on the magnificence of the beauty that remains though and the engineering marvel which is Spitskop Dam. 🤩🌊

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

Een plaats als Windsorton is tekenend als reflectie van ‘once upon a time the place to be’. Zelf blijf ik het altijd fascinerend vinden wat er gebeurt als ergens iets in de natuur gevonden wordt waar velen ineens als sprinkhanen op afkomen. Wat een dynamische gemeenschap moet hier geleefd hebben tijdens de hoogtijdagen! De restanten van de machines spreken boekdelen, een veld vol prachtig industrieel erfgoed. Ook uit de werkelijk immense afmeting van het kerkhof spreekt veel geschiedenis. Dank voor je uitgebreide wandeling over dat terrein. Het fraaie bosje ‘lelietjes van Dalen’ dat in de grafsteen van die geboren Engelsman is afgebeeld, trok meteen mijn aandacht; een van mijn overgrootmoeders was dol daarop en is met een bosje in haar handen de kist in gegaan. Tsja de vergane glorie van gebouwen waarvan meerdere kennelijk bewust zijn vernield … (waar komt toch altijd die enorme hoeveelheid afval vandaan? Houdt men feestjes in zulke bouwvallen🙄😢?) … Het is een wonderlijke combinatie in Windsorton van dergelijke overblijfselen afgewisseld met moderne grote huizen met hekwerken en de hoge bomen uit oude tijden als blikvangers van wat ooit een mooi stadje moet zijn geweest. De NG kerk lijkt wel stand te houden, de bel zit gelukkig nog in de toren 😅💒

[@DustBugsTravel]

For us, it's one thing if humans are interested in exploiting the planet's natural resources, but a completely different animal if that desire (or greed sometimes) causes the complete destruction of nature. Sonia and I watch gold-mining programmes on TV sometimes and we're fascinated by them and their machinery, but those miners (in Canada and the US) all have to complete extensive reclamation of the land once they've mined out the area. I'm not so sure it is that well-controlled locally. The graveyard is a large property and I was, as always, fascinated by the older graves. 🏛️ It was rather eerie to see excavations being done so close to the graveyard and I hope the townsfolk see to it that the graves are protected. I loved reading about your great-grandmother's love for lily-of-the-valley plants and that she was even buried holding a bunch, that's very sweet. 💐 Thank you for sharing that with us. I have no answer to your question about the litter in destroyed buildings. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I've often wondered about that myself, but have no clear answer. The church was a shining light in town though and so good to see it is still being taken care of and maintained. 🚙💒

[@gregorydavids5304]

Awesome video Dustbugs! A diamand boom always attracts unsavory, shady characters, many furgitives from the law using false names. Who knows, maybe those unmarked graves are of them?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for watching! 🚙😁 I think you make a very good point and a good percentage of those unmarked graves might very well be of unknown prospectors descending on Windsorton to make their fortune. 💎 Sad that they met their end, probably without their loved ones knowing for the most part.

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys this is another surprise to me a bit like the towns in the USA that are deserted with all the large pieces of mine machines scattered everywhere. The drive in was great with impala and the massive dam lovely view of the dam wall. The town as definitely declined from its hay day the DRF church was well kept but the town hall hotel and masonic Lodge very sad there must be lots of diamonds to move the houses mine then move them back again crazy. I see the derelict houses are being lived in so hopefully someone has benifited. The cemetery was interesting maybe the piles of stones were old prospectors graves I noticed one the graves the guy was born in Margate in Kent what a difference to where he is buried!! More added to my education very interesting video thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

This was definitely an interesting trip through diamond-mining country, most of those days long forgotten now. The dam was most certainly a highlight for us and I'm glad we could get so close! 🌊🤩 The Town Hall, the Masonic Lodge and the old hotel were all close together as you saw and it filled us with great sadness to see especially the destruction of the Town Hall and the Lodge. They were both quite grand buildings. 🏛️😥 Imagine the gentleman coming all the way from Kent to Windsorton to come and prospect for diamonds. 🤷🏻‍♂️💎 If I remember correctly, that's close to where you live, but I might be confused. 😁 I bet you felt quite at home in this little settlement with the very English name! 🚙🇬🇧

[@gungho6798]

Awesome video. Mark, Miami

[@deonzar]

Yes likewise...never heard of Windsorton or the Spitskop dam, and thanx for taking us there. The mining that was done there must have been huge if you look at all the buildings...or what is left of it. But the burming of buildings in the town.....and many other towns we see makes me so sad...or rather more the @#$%% in...and unfortunately it has gone too far and we will never get rid of that mentality. So sad...

[@DustBugsTravel]

The Spitskop Dam was for sure a sight for sore eyes! 🤩🌊 I am in full agreement with you about the buildings being destroyed and I too will never be able to understand the mentality of those who take pleasure in destroying things. 🏛️😥 The Doornkloof Mine must've been an extensive operation to have had big hostels like that and even a church! They must've moved on when the area was mined out and then the seemingly inevitable destruction followed. 💎🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Torridon22]

Thank you for a great video - there is a special little cemetery just across the river called Wedberg. Some famous people buried there and all that remains of a town called Wedberg.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I knew it! I knew you had mentioned a cemetery in this area before! I added it to our list of requested places too, but this list has gotten so long that I simply can't manage it anymore. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Wedberg sounds super interesting, but we didn't get to it during our time in the area, sadly. I'm glad you enjoyed our Windsorton video though, I was particularly touched by that graveyard and the excavations so close by were really eerie. I just hope the graves are protected somehow. 😥🏛️ Thank you for your continued support of our channel, we both appreciate it very much! 😊

[@IvanAlmendro-lu1vx]

We lived in Smithsmine and we stayed in the house next to the Blinklip bazaar shop,i was from sub A to std 5 in the prim school ,I also fished in this dam all my life,that little church were ou NG kerk ,l still drive memory trips to this place were we stayed for 15 years

[@JasonSmith-yc5og]

I lived in Smithsmine in the house in between the school and the shop for three years in the mid eighties(84-87 I think).My mom was a teacher there and I was in the school from Std 1 to std. 3... amazing little community .......

[@streak365]

Good day everyone. I have such fond memories of Windsorton. Was town clerk there for a few years. With your permission I will post some videos that was taken by my late good friend, Francios Haasbroek. He was the headmaster at Hebron Laerskool. His wife was the only other teacher. One story that needs to be told was told to me by the late Oom Willie Deethlifs. He was Town clerk of Windsorton many years ago. They had to bury one of their friends. The body had to come by train from Kimberley. They hand to take the Pont over the river towards Windsorton Road, the railway station. About 10 km away from town. The train was delayed and the station was right next to the hotel. They had to wait quite a long time and eventually have to drive back to town after spending too much money at the hotel. On the way back, they overturned the truck, another comrade past on. Next Saturday the same story, but without visiting the hotel. When they came to the grave Oom Willie was the only one that could read. He was given the task of reading a few words. When the coffin was lowered they realized they must sing something. No one knew any hymns and they only song they knew was " For he was a jolly good fellow"

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for watching our video of your old hometown. 🚙😍 I enjoyed reading your comment, Windsorton was clearly a very interesting place, filled with interesting characters and interesting stories. We appreciate you sharing those! You won't be able to post any links here, but viewers who are interested, can search for your friend online to watch his videos. 😊🎥

[@jennyramsay8565]

I wasn't sure if others were aware. I personally didn't know until I was looking for my great grandfather's grave in Primrose the records are not on site like they use to be the "guard" told me the all records are in the municipality offices, Lucky for Me!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm happy to hear that. 👌🏻 I think you were very fortunate indeed to trace the records you were looking for.

[@AiFantastic2024]

Hello everyone I'm also from Winterton the town hall was burnt down not because of a permit it was teenagers from the location they liked to throw stones and break the windows I remember growing up I used to go into the town hall with my friends there was a old piano that I used to play my grandparents also got married in the town hall it was a beautiful place but the people from the upper parts of windsorton where it is overpopulated the teenagers their they burned the place down because it was places that was built during apartheid so they don't have respect for it I grew up here since I was 5 years old I am 24 now someday soon I will also leave this place and go see the world one day I hope this place still stands so I can come back and show my children where I came from

[@streak365]

According to Oom Willie Hebron/ Windsorton had more than 50 registered hotels and more than 150 bars. The town was located from the Vaalriver and streched to Holpan, about 15 km away. That was in the haydays.

[@DustBugsTravel]

That sounds incredible and almost like a city back in the day! 😳 I would never have said that there were so many, we definitely didn't see that many ruins. Those numbers only go to show how many folks descended on Windsorton, no doubt seeking their fortune. 💎

[@jennyramsay8565]

Burial records are usually kept at the municipality offices.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We're well aware of that and it's exactly the reason why we're doubtful that they still exist. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@francoispieterse7371]

Springbok is a gazelle (something to do about the type of horns),being skittish might be because of hunting season...lol Impala an antelope, i called them Bush Mcdonalds for the M from the back and as there is so many in KNP.

[@DustBugsTravel]

And then again all gazelles are antelopes, but not all antelopes are gazelles, so we stay on the safe side and just call them all antelope. 😁🦌 We're completely aware that the springbok were skittish due to possible hunting in the area, but there is no humour in that for us as non-hunters. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Sonia is extremely sensitive to that kind of thing, so we won't ever discuss hunting in our videos.