Rondebosch
Fountain
Rondebosch Fountain forms the centre of this suburb, find it
where Belmont & Main Road meets. Buy your fresh cut flowers
from the Flower sellers near the Fountain.The Fountain is
considered the "centre" of Rondebosch and can be visited in its
original place, now the busy traffic intersection where Belmont
Road meets Main Road. On or near this spot, stood a clump of thorn
trees named by Jan van Riebeeck, "'T Ronde Doornbosjen" from
which Rondebosch took its name. In this vicinity, on March 1, 1657,
nine free "burghers" took permanent title to land and became the
first European "citizens" of South Africa.
The Fountain was donated to the Municipality of
Rondebosch by George Pigot Moodie on 26 Sept 1891. He
died five weeks later at Westbrooke where he lived.
It was proclaimed a national monument on 10 April 1964.
Contrary to its name, the Fountain is actually an ornamental
trough for watering horses. This cast-iron structure was put
together from a catalogue issued by Walter Macfarlane & Co,
Saracen Foundry, Glasgow. The lamp above the fountain apparently
contained the first electric street light installed in Cape
Town.
For many years fresh flowers have been sold from the side-walk
across the road from the Fountain and has become a landmark to the
people of Rondebosch and neighbouring suburbs.
A variety of fresh flowers are available all year long, from the
indigenous giant proteas and "Snow on the Mountain" in season to
the more known Gladiolus hybrids, roses and Dutch Iris. This is
well worth a visit.
Text from web site (found the same text on two so I m not
crediting either)