Short History of Camps Bay
Camps Bay was named after Mr. Fredrick Ernst Von Kamptz who resided on the farm "Ravensteyn" during the 1700's.
After Jan Van Riebeeck arrived at Cape Town in 1652 he explored the surrounding area. He soon crossed over the Kloof and discovered a bay with a fine beach and big forest behind Table Mountain. This area behind Table Mountain was not utilised by the company for a long time as it had few attractions for early farmers and the line of breakers made it dangerous for shipping.
By 1700 the land behind the kloof was known as Roodekrantz or Red Bank because of the colour of the soil. The land was granted to John Lodewyk Wernich, Burgermeester of Bismark who built a farmhouse and called it Ravensteyn. His widow, Anna Koekemoer married her third husband Fredrik Ersnt Von Kamptz. The Wernich farmhouse later became the holiday home of various British Governors, including Lord Charles Somerset.
When the American War of Independence broke out in 1777, the French and the Dutch sided with America to fight against England. Since the Cape was considered an important trade and supply station, both France and England sent their troops to Cape Town. The French won the race and landed 11 days before the British. The French advised that a line of fortifications be built extending from the sea to Devils Peak, as well as the battery on Kloof Nek. Von Kamptz's track to Camps Bay was torn up, trenches were dug and a battery and guardhouse built.
After the war, von Kamptz returned home to find his farm wrecked and his track destroyed. He lodged an official complaint, but the governor refused to rebuild the track, instead offering to buy the farm. On 31 January 1786, the government paid compensation to von Kamptz and the farm changed hands. Within a few months, two small batteries had been built.
Dutch power in the Cape was fading by the end of the 18th century. When news of the Napoleonic Wars arrived in 1793, the British decided to secure the Cape. They took control of the Cape settlement in 1795, and finally defeated the Dutch in 1806 at Blouberg. In 1807 Lord Charles Somerset used a building known as the "Round House" in Camps Bay as his hunting lodge.
Camps Bays became popular as a supreme beauty spot and Governors, Chief Justices and their visitors took on the dangerous and narrow road to the beach more regularly. By 1848 a good road was built round the Kloof to reach Camps Bay. The road was called Lady Smiths Pass after the current Governors wife, although it was later renamed Kloof Road.
Today one of the most easily identifiable landmark in Camps Bay is the Rotunda situated on the beachfront. The Rotunda was built in 1904 and was used for dancing, roller skating, silent movie shows, boxing and other sporting events. Another famous landmark is the Round House situated in the beautiful forested Glen area bordering Clifton, which was used as a hunting lodge by Lord Charles Somerset in the 1800's.
