The Old Gunpowder House of Potchefstroom - A Relic of South Africa’s Military Past

Among the many historical structures in Potchefstroom, one of the most significant yet often overlooked is the Old Gunpowder House. Constructed between 1841 and 1863, this building stands as one of the oldest surviving structures in the city. Once a crucial part of Potchefstroom’s military and strategic landscape, it played a vital role during the First War of Independence (1880-1881) and remains a silent witness to South Africa’s tumultuous past.

Image : Facebook Lennie Gouws

The Role of Gunpowder in Early South African Settlements

The use of gunpowder was an essential aspect of life for the early European settlers in South Africa. Whether for hunting or defense, gunpowder was in high demand. Before the widespread use of modern cartridges in the 1870s, firearms were loaded manually with loose gunpowder and projectiles, making the safe storage of these explosive materials a necessity. Due to the potential risk of accidental explosions, gunpowder magazines were constructed outside of main settlements. Potchefstroom, as an important Voortrekker town, was no exception.

Early Efforts to Establish a Gunpowder Magazine

Historical records suggest that in 1841, J.J. Hudson appealed to the Volksraad in Pietermaritzburg for a gunpowder magazine to be constructed in Potchefstroom. However, approval was contingent upon the town’s relocation from its original site near Boskop Dam to its current location.

For years, government authorities stored gunpowder in the magistrate’s office, a less-than-ideal arrangement due to the risks associated with large quantities of explosives. The first official gunpowder magazine was constructed between 1854 and 1857. However, this structure suffered severe damage in 1880 when British forces partially demolished it to obtain materials for their fortifications during the First War of Independence.

The Siege of Potchefstroom and the Magazine’s Role in Warfare

The Old Gunpowder House became a critical site during the First Anglo-Boer War (1880-1881), particularly during the Siege of Potchefstroom. When British forces arrived in the town in late 1880, they confiscated all available weapons and ammunition and stored them inside the magazine. Recognizing its strategic importance, the Boer forces aimed to reclaim control of the gunpowder reserves. Both sides dug trenches leading toward the magazine in an attempt to gain access to the valuable ammunition stored inside.

On the night of January 2, 1881, Lieutenant Rundle led a daring raid on the magazine, managing to seize nearly a ton of gunpowder and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition. In retaliation, Boer forces shelled the magazine the following day. The magazine, which was already weakened from previous conflicts, suffered extensive damage.

The Rebuilding of the Magazine

Following the war, authorities constructed a fourth iteration of the gunpowder magazine in 1882, which is the structure still standing today. Recognizing the evolving nature of ammunition technology, the new magazine was built to store metallic cartridges rather than loose gunpowder, reducing fire hazards. As a result, merchants were eventually permitted to store ammunition in their shops rather than being required to keep it in the government-run facility.

Heritage Status and Modern-Day Significance

On August 31, 1973, the Old Gunpowder House was officially declared a National Monument, later reclassified as a Grade 2 Provincial Heritage Site. However, despite its historical significance, the building stands largely unnoticed by the thousands of travelers who pass by it daily. Located near the on-ramp to the N12 from Potchindustria, it remains in relative obscurity, its legacy overshadowed by modern infrastructure.

The Potchefstroom gunpowder magazine serves as a rare reminder of a time when the town was a focal point of conflict and survival. Though no longer in use, it is a structure built to withstand the immense power of explosives—estimated at over 5,000 horsepower per kilogram of gunpowder.

Conclusion

The Old Gunpowder House of Potchefstroom is more than just an abandoned building; it is a symbol of the town’s rich military history and resilience. As one of the few remaining structures from the early days of the Voortrekkers, it deserves greater recognition and preservation efforts to ensure its story continues to be told for generations to come.