The construction of the Pakhuis and Botterkloof passes in 1877 opened up a new route to Calvinia. The only delay being the pont over the Doorn River at Nieuwoudt’s Drift. Thomas Bain travelling from the Onder Bokkeveld to Piekenierskloof selected a site for the bridge and said that the timber for its construction could come from the Biedouw. Presumably Cedarwood.
The bridge was only built in 1895 and was washed away in the 1920s. Transport across the river reverted to using a pont until the present bridge was built in 1930.
The photograph above is from the Cape Archives collection AG9381. The modern photograph below taken from the north bank shows where the bridge was and the abutment is used by a local farmer to site their irrigation pump. Click here to read the full story (VASSA Journal number 10).
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