In the footsteps of History (1 of 10)

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THE GLASGOW PONT HOTEL: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HISTORY

From its earliest beginnings in 1857 The Glasgow Pont Hotel, in Norval’s Pont village, has been an important stop over for trans Orange travellers. Norval’s Pont derives its name from founding Scotsman John Norval who began a pont, or ferry service sometime in the 1840’s and built three successive ferry craft all of which were wrecked or lost due to the strength of the Orange River flow, and all of which were named after old John’s birthplace “Glasgow”, hence the name of the hotel.

Two Free State Presidents are recorded as having used the Glasgow Pont, John Brandt being one, the other, President Steyn who famously stayed at the original hotel building after falling off the pont and into the freezing waters of the river. Later, the village and its famous bridge was used as the point of entry by Boer Generals De La Rey and Christiaan De Wet in their invasion of the Cape Colony in 1899 when, for a short time, Norval’s Pont became the southern-most part of the Orange Free State until De Villiers and his Kommando, falling back before the onslaught of Clements and French’s Imperial Forces, blew up the river bridge to cover their retreat. For a few months while the bridge was rebuilt, the “Glasgow Pont” resumed its ferry work until a foolhardy British Officer commanded Piet Roux the Pontman to cross while the river was in spate and the old pont was lost forever along with a team of mules, a wagon and so weakening old Piet that he died shortly after.

A lot of water, as they say, has flowed under the bridge since those days when Norval’s Pont  became an important railway junction and a main artery for northbound rail traffic. But few could have imagined how vital its location would later become as the centre of operations for the building of the Hendrik Verwoerd, now Gariep, Dam in the 1960’s. So much so that the Glasgow Pont Hotel Bar had to be extended three times to cope with the number of thirsty engineers who arrived to work on the project. Today, in quieter times, the 34 metre bar remains the longest of its kind in the Northern Cape and a testimony to the “Hotel  Bar That Built the Dam”!

Maintaining the Scots heritage at the “Pont”, Rod and Judith McGregor-Mann offer a welcome as warm as it has ever been and refreshing drinks as cold they can be served along with a fine daily menu of bar snacks and meals especially including the Bo Karoo regional speciality of Lamb in all its forms: chops, roasts, curries and cold cuts in the same fine tradition of the Norval Family in days of old. For a Sunday Roast Karoo lamb, the “Pont” offers old fashioned home cooked fare to suit every pocket (and appetite!)

Certainly worth a visit for the nostalgic  atmosphere of an old time Country Hotel Bar for the travel weary, the curious and the thirsty!  The long bar features interesting artifacts and photo’s for those interested in local history and legends while river safari’s, fishing rod hire and pet friendly B&B or backpacker style  accommodation are just a few of the extra services offered by your friendly hosts, Rod and Judith. See you there seven days a week during the holiday  season.  Family dogs and well-behaved children welcome!  Find us just 4 km’s from Gariep, across the river, in the village centre.

Next Time: Tales of Trekkers & Tortoises

Article courtesy of Rod Mann, Owner of the 'Pont, 2005 - 2010