Bathurst

Description:

Intended to be the administrative centre of the Settler Country, Bathurst in the Eastern Cape was founded in 1820 and named after the colonial secretary, Lord Bathurst. Many of the original settler houses and other buildings have been preserved, the surrounding area includes pineapple farms, game reserves and cattle and sheep ranches.

Bathurst is home to the biggest Pineapple in the World, The Big Pineapple is 16.7m high and has 3 floors. Constructed out of a fiberglass the outer skin covering a steel and concrete superstructure and has a gift shop full of pineapple goodies, locally made pottery, puzzles, t-shirts, hats and tourist information .

The Kowie River loops in a horse shoe forming The Horseshoe Bend where picnic spots, Canoe trails and hiking trails are available. The Bradshaw's Mill was built by the Settler, Samuel Bradshaw in 1821 and served as water-driven wool mill; Wesleyan Chapel built by Samuel Bradshaw and opened in 1832, besieged in the Frontier Wars, Houses Jeremiah Goldswain's Family Bible.

Bathurts is home to St John's Anglican Church, the oldest unaltered Anglican Church in South Africa. It served as a sanctuary in the Frontier Wars of 1834, 1846 and 1851 for hundreds of Settlers. The Pig 'n Whistle Hotel, built in 1831 by Thomas Hartley offers accommodation with Grahamstown and Port Alfred some of the bigger towns in the area close by.