History of Stanford

Province: Western Cape
Overberg
Coordinates:34°26′30″S 19°27′20″E
Area:3.92 km2
Municipality: Overstrand

Wheat mill and other innovations

Stanford was established on the farm the Kleijne River Valleij which was granted to Christoffel Brand by the British government in 1801. The farm changed hands several times and was then bought in 1838 by Irishman Robert Stanford who retired from the British army on “Half pay” after having served in Burma. Stanford made several improvements including building a wheat grinding mill on the stream close to his house. Stanford was forward-thinking and entrepreneurial so he bought a boat in order to transport goods by sea over False Bay to Cape Town, instead of dragging wagons over the Hottentots Holland which was far more time-consuming.

The Neptune scandal

Sadly Stanford lost his fortune due to the “Neptune scandal” which happened as a result of captured rebels being sent here after the failed Irish rebellion. The Dutch colonists were not happy about these convicts being dropped ff at the Cape and would not allow locals to provide the ship with supplies. However, the Governor approached Stanford, reminding him that he was still officially in the employ of The British. He was duty-bound to comply and as a result, he was shunned and ostracised by locals. The persecution became so bad that Stanford returned to Britain. He was reduced to poverty and he died in Manchester at age 70. In 1857 the first plot was bought in the village that was then called Stanford.

Group areas act defied by Mathilda May

in the early 1960s when the “Group Areas Act” was being enforced and coloured families were moved to Die Skema one stalwart Mathilda May held out, refused to move and remained in her house in Langmark Street till she died in the 1980s. Many other people still speak of the sadness of being removed from the houses they were born and raised in.

The license plate prefix for Stanford is CEM and the postcode is 7210 (Streets and Boxes)

WEATHER IN STANFORD TODAY

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Things to see and do in Stanford

Flouhoogte pass
Salmonsdam ravine trail
Klein River
Panthera Africa Wild Cat Sanctuary
Hikes, Horse Riding and MTB trails (see listings)

Useful Numbers in Stanford

Police: 028 341 0601
Municipality– 028 341 8500
Traffic department: Hermanus Traffic Department-028 313 8111
Fire: 24-Hour Emergency line: 028 313 8000/8111
Fire Brigade: 028 312 2400
Water:028 341 8500
Electricity:028 341 8500
Ambulance: 10177 or Overstrand Medical Response-078 699 6995
Post office;Hermanus Post Office-028 312 1500
Library: 028 341-0640
Closest hospital;Hermanus Provincial Hospital-028 312 1166
Clinic – 028 341 0933
Pharmacy Clicks Pharmacy – Hermanus-028 313 0270
SPCA: Stanford Animal Welfare Society- 072 318 1519/064 881 2294 sawsstanford@gmail.com
Stanford Tourism office in Queen Victoria Street 028 341 8516 stanfordtourism@overstrand.gov.za
Community hall 028 341 0640
Schools:
Okkie Smuts Primary School-028 341 0611
Die Bron Primary School-028 341 0830
Tourism (0)28 341 0340

Local Listings