Historical

2 February 1881, Kimberley Stock Exchange opens. 2 February 1901, All businesses in Beaconsfield closed as a mark of respect for the death of Queen Victoria. 2 February 1948, Bevil Gordon D’Urban Rudd MC dies. NATURAL SPORTSMAN WHO WON OLYMPIC ...

01 February 1876, The High Court of Griqualand West moves from Barkly West to Kimberley. 01 February 1899, Tramline between Kimberley and Kenilworth opens. 01 February 1909, Alfred Beit House, the hostel for girls at Kimberley GHS, opens. 01 February ...

UPDATED: 31/01/2023 Nothing to report on this day in Kimberley’s history. Research is ongoing… Sir Ernest Oppenheimer’s telephone The telephone in what was Sir Ernest Oppenheimer’s office/study at 7 Lodge Road in Belgravia. Now a private residence, the house was ...

UPDATED: 30/01/2023 30 January 1884, Arthur E Caldecott awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal. 30 January 1903, Mrs Joseph Chamberlain (Mary Crowninshield Endicott, daughter of the US Secretary of War) lays the foundation stone of the Women’s Hostel in Lennox Street. ...

UPDATE: 27/01/2023 27 January 1910, A liberal supporter of all sports, James A Hill of Hill and Paddon, dies at his home “Violet Bank” on Park Road. JAMES HILL OF VIOLET BANK and HILL AND PADDON James (Jimmy) Alfred Hill ...

UPDATED: 26/01/2023 26 January 1923, Two Kimberley chemists charged with selling opium over the counter. 26 January 1947, Tommy Eden beats Paddy Walker 21-17 in the GW Men’s Bowls singles final. ST ALBAN’S CHURCH TAKOON SQUARE St Alban’s Anglican church ...

UPDATED: 25/01/2023 25 January 1943, Greenpoint Secondary School (Tidimalo) opens. 25 January 1967, David Gray (8 yrs old) swims the world best time for his age group in the 440 yards freestyle. 25 January 1996, Kimberley’s first African Mayor, David ...

UPDATED: 24/01/2023 24 January 1900, Biggest bombardment of Kimberley by the Boers during the siege, Maggie Maddocks killed. 500 SHELLS FIRED INTO KIMBERLEY ON THIS DAY The Boer reply to the British 28.1 pounder Long Cecil gun took a few ...

UPDATE: 23/01/2023 23 January 1913, Six Black miners die in a Kimberley Mine mud rush. MUD RUSH GIVES NO WARNING Mud rushes are sudden inflows of mud from draw points or other underground openings, and the rapidity of the mud ...

UPDATED: 20/01/2023 20 January 1900, Proving, sighting and slight adjustments to the Long Cecil gun (pictured) are made. DEATH FROM DISEASE RUNS RAMPANT DURING THE SIEGE Rationing of foodstuffs was not seriously adhered to until the military authorities realized that ...