New Contree serves as a scholarly voice and platform for instilling and disseminating specific and comparative local and regional history debate in Africa, and its value in broader (transnational contexts). New Contree’s intellectual repertoire compliments a rigorous theoretically reflexive social history in which inclusivity in reconstructing the past from ‘below’ (ordinary people’s voice, and acknowledging smaller community activities) and also from ‘above’ (be informed on related actions of for example central authority, government and national figures) matters. Change occurs through the interaction of major decisive events, and the rhythm of seemingly trivial, prosaic, and almost discreet courses of daily life.

New Contree serves as a scholarly voice and platform for instilling and disseminating specific and comparative local and regional history debate in Africa, and its value in broader (transnational contexts). New Contree’s intellectual repertoire compliments a rigorous theoretically reflexive social history in which inclusivity in reconstructing the past from ‘below’ (ordinary people’s voice, and acknowledging smaller community activities) and also from ‘above’ (be informed on related actions of for example central authority, government and national figures) matters. Change occurs through the interaction of major decisive events, and the rhythm of seemingly trivial, prosaic, and almost discreet courses of daily life.

Professor Pugh, who has been Editor of this History since 1949 and who is retiring in September this year, here describes the aims and achievements of this world-famous series since its inception in 1899. It is, he explains, a work designed to narrate encyclopaedically the history of the English counties on a basis of original research. He shows how the various county 'sets' are organized and what steps are taken to co-ordinate the work of different local editors throughout the country so as to secure a high and uniform degree of technical proficiency. He argues that English topographical techniques can profitably be studied by other countries who may wish to initiate regional historical studies.

Robert Gray was commissioned in 1847 to come to South Africa as the first Anglican bishop of Cape Town. His wife Sophia, a talented architect and artist, assisted him in his work and accompanied him on most of his journeys into the interior. Wherever he established congregations she designed the churches, some of which are still to be seen at George, Knysna, Claremont (Cape), Caledon, Fraserburg, Riversdale, Worcester, Clanwilliam and Victoria West. During their last trip into the interior in 1869 Bishop Gray, his wife and Harold Welby, the resident magistrate, chose the site for the St. John's Anglican church at Victoria West and Sophia Gray designed it. The foundation stone was laid on 27 December 1869 by John Adams but the church was completed only in 1874. The stained glass windows, especially the three above the altar depicting the crucifixion and the resurrection, form a striking feature of this church.

Originally the district of Middelburg was part of the Republic of Lydenburg. In 1860, however, before the town of Middelburg was established (1864), this district was incorporated into the Transvaal Republic. From 1866 the town was called Nazareth until the Volksraad in 1874 restored the name of Middelburg. During the Second Anglo-Boer War the British forces who had occupied the town established a military and a concentration camp there. Although Middelburg at first developed very slowly, it eventually became an important administrative and educational centre. The large population growth and the rapid progress that Middelburg has experienced in the past two decades have been responsible for the demolition of many of the historical buildings that linked the town with the past.

Woodstock, which was originally known as Papendorp, is an industrial and residential area in Cape Town. At the beginning of the nineteenth century houses were erected along the main road which ran through the property of Pieter van Papendorp and in 1845 the area could boast of an Anglican church and a school. The tempo of growth quickening when the railway line was laid by 1881 Papendorp and Salt River had merged and the name Woodstock was accepted for the new municipality. Increasing industrialization completely altered the character of this residential area, at one time purely Afrikaans, which was incorporated into Cape Town in 1913.

The opening of the Blaauwkrantz Bridge in 1884 was an important link in the completion of the railway line-between Grahamstown and Port Alfred. This line proved a boon to farmers of the area and to businessmen in Grahamstown and Port Alfred. For the private company who built the line, however, it was not a financial success, and in 1913 it was taken over by the South African Railways and integrated into their railway system. Unable to cope with the increased traffic and the heavier rolling stock, the original Blaauwkrantz Bridge was eventually replaced by a new one. The old bridge, however, is still remembered for a railway disaster in April 1911 in which twenty eight people were killed.

An analysis of relevant sources reveals that Potchefstroom was not (as is generally assumed) founded in November 1838 but at the earliest, after 3 December 1838. The oldest sources furthermore indicate that Potchefstroom was not the original orthography and only later became the general accepted for, probably under German influence. This consequently also casts some doubt on the modern explanation of the meaning and derivation of the name.

Before the year 1900 Coloureds were not allowed on Pretoria’s sidewalks. After the British takeover of Pretoria this policy was changed when first respected Asians and later on Coloureds and Blacks were permitted on the sidewalks. During British crown colony government the extension of this concession evoked strong reaction from the Whites. They wanted a return to the pre-Anglo Boer War period and up to 1912 several attempts were made to secure this. After Union was established in 1910 the government worked on a law for urban Blacks, but to bar the Coloureds from the sidewalks was not considered. This attitude of the Whites of Pretoria can be attributed to their unwillingness to associate socially with Coloureds and to their fears that these privileges will lead to equal rights for Coloureds. In opposition to this some Whites regarded it as recognition of the Coloureds’ progress if they were to be allowed to use the sidewalks. The Coloureds themselves, however, looked upon this prohibition as unnecessary discrimination against them.

In seeking to explain and not merely describe local history, it is necessary to look at the reasons for settlement in any region. This involves viewing regions as part of a larger system – local history must be explored in relation to processes operating on the urban, regional and national levels.