HP0020

Did You Know?

Moodie se Puts, located near Port Beaufort in the Western Cape, is a historical water source associated with Captain Benjamin Moodie, a Scottish settler and entrepreneur. In 1817, Moodie brought a group of Scottish artisans and labourers to the Cape Colony, and by 1820 he established a settlement at the mouth of the Breede River, which later became known as Port Beaufort. The well, or 'puts' in Afrikaans, was reportedly dug by some of these Scottish workmen to provide fresh water for local fishermen and settlers, as the river mouth area lacked reliable drinking water. Port Beaufort was developed in the early 1820s as a harbour for exporting wool and other goods from the interior, with Moodie playing a key role in its early growth. The well itself is a modest but tangible remnant of the early British settlement period in the Cape, reflecting the practical needs of a small coastal community. The site is not a major formal heritage monument, but it is locally recognised as a link to the Scottish influence in the region and the early 19th-century maritime and agricultural economy. Contextually, the 1820s in the Cape Colony saw significant British immigration, including the 1820 Settlers who arrived in the Eastern Cape, but Moodie's private venture in the Western Cape was distinct. The well's exact construction date is uncertain, though it aligns with the early years of Port Beaufort's establishment. Today, the area is part of the Cape Whale Coast, and the well serves as a quiet historical marker of the challenges of fresh water supply in a coastal environment.

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