Peddie

(prior to 1910)

The division of Victoria was established on 23 December 1847 on territory between the Great Fish and Keiskamma rivers, which had previously been annexed to the Cape in 1829. On 8 March 1848 the southern districts of Victoria were proclaimed a separate division known as Peddie, with Mr WM Edge as its first Civil Commissioner.

During the colonial era local agriculture was largely in the hands of indigenous farmers whose main product was grain. However, by the 1880s the influence of training institutions such as Healdtown was beginning to be felt and a number of individuals were beginning to enter the urban and industrial job market, both as labourers and as crafters.

The following census figures are available for the division:

1865 census: 18,796 residents, of whom 670 were literate

1875 census: 16,886 residents, of whom 1,482 were literate

1891 census: 16,525 residents, of whom 2,025 were literate

1904 census: 19,739 residents, of whom 3,384 were literate.

Fort Peddie was erected by the British military during the frontier war of 1834-35 for the protection of amaMfengu refugees evicted from Gcalekaland. It was named after Lt-Col John Peddie, Officer Commanding the 72nd Highlanders. In 1837 the mission of St James was established on a nearby site by the South African Missionary Society. Originally designed as an earth redoubt, the fort was built on the plan of an eight-pointed star with walls broad enough to allow for the movement of a 6-pounder cannon on the top. Because of its critical position in the defence of the Albany district, over the next few years it underwent a series of major improvements.

Its earthworks were gradually replaced by dressed stone walls with loopholed opening, and its square watch-tower, built in 1841, housed a cannon on its roof and, in an emergency, could be used as a fortified bailey. The fort came under fire in 1837, and again on 28 May 1846, when it was besieged by 9,000 amaXhosa tribesmen. On both occasions it proved equal to its task. When the Imperial troops were withdrawn in 1862, the property was given over to the Anglican Church.

By 1853 the name of the post had been abridged to Peddie and it had become the principal administrative centre for the newly-established division of Peddie. The 1875 census indicated that the village had a population of 299. By 1904 this number had risen to 473.The Historical Buildings and Artifacts of Peddie, include: