Did You Know?
Mylklip LXVII is a historic milestone (mylklip) located near Swellendam in the Western Cape, dated 1843. The inscription 'LXVII' refers to the Roman numeral 67, indicating the distance in miles from a specific starting point, likely Cape Town, along the old postal route. This stone was part of a series of milestones erected along the main road connecting Swellendam and Worcester, which was a key inland route during the 19th century. This particular milestone served as a loading and offloading point (op- en aflaaipunt) for mail and passengers travelling by post coach (poskoets) on the Swellendam–Worcester route. The post coach system in the Cape Colony was an essential communication and transport network, linking rural towns with the administrative centre. Milestones like this were practical navigational aids, helping coach drivers and travellers gauge distances and plan their journeys. The year 1843 falls within the period when the Cape Colony was under British rule, and road infrastructure was being improved to support trade, governance, and postal services. Swellendam, established in 1745 as one of the oldest towns in South Africa, was a vital stop on this route, serving as a district capital and agricultural hub. Today, such milestones are rare surviving examples of early colonial road infrastructure. They are protected as heritage objects, offering insight into 19th-century travel, communication, and the expansion of the colonial network in the Western Cape. The specific stone's exact original location and current status may not be widely documented, but its role as a waypoint for the postal service is historically significant.
AI-assisted · may contain inaccuracies