Fort of Good Hope

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The Fort of Good Hope (Dutch: Ford de Goede Hoop) was the first military building to be erected in what is now Cape Town. It was built in 1652, and was in use until 1674^[1] when it was superseded by the Castle of Good Hope.

Key Information

Fort of Good Hope
Ford de Goede Hoop
Cape Town, South Africa
A model of the fort as it would have appeared in the 1650s
Site information
Type	Fort
Location
Fort of Good Hope Location in the Western Cape
Coordinates	33°55′27″S 18°25′27″E / 33.92417°S 18.42417°E / -33.92417; 18.42417
Site history
Built	1652; 373 years ago (1652)
Built by	Dutch East India Company
Materials	Earth and timber
Demolished	Late 17th century
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The Fort was built by the Dutch East India Company, when it established a replenishment station under Jan van Riebeeck on the shore of Table Bay in 1652.^[2] Constructed of earth and timber, it was square, with a pointed bastion at each corner. The bastions were named Drommedaris, Walvisch, Oliphant, and Reijger.^[3] The bastions were named after the ships in Van Riebeeck's fleet.

Within the Fort were living quarters, kitchens, a council chamber (which was also used for church services), a sick bay, workshops, and storerooms. Cannons were placed on the ramparts. A nearby stream was diverted and channeled to form a moat around the fort. Being built of earth, the Fort needed frequent maintenance and repairs, especially after heavy rains.^[3]

In January 1666, work began on a stone fortress to replace the Fort. It took eight years to build, and it was not until 1674 that it was ready for occupation. On 2 May 1674, the council resolved to demolish the Fort, except for some stores which were retained for a while longer, until their contents had been moved into the Castle.^[3]

The Fort is sometimes confused with the Redoubt Duijnhoop, which was built some distance away, at the mouth of the Salt River, in 1654.^{[citation needed]}

In 1732 the first Masonic lodge in South Africa was erected, Lodge De Goede Hoop, which was a branch of the Premier Grand Lodge of England.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

• Castle of Good Hope
• Fortifications of the Cape Peninsula
• Redout Duijnhoop
• List of Castles and Fortifications in South Africa

33°55′27″S 18°25′27″E / 33.92417°S 18.42417°E / -33.92417; 18.42417