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THE POWDER MAGAZINE
History
The magazine was erected during the previous century by the
government of the ZAR After the Second War of Independence (1889 -
1902), it was occasionally used to isolate people suffering from leprosy
and other contagious diseases.
It was originally situated to the Southwest of the
railway crossing to Randlespark, next to the Klerksdorp - Orkney road.
When authorities started planning a new double road there, it was decided
to transfer the magazine to the museum site, rather than having it
demolished.
Before dismantling, exact sketches of the walls with
the position of each stone in them were drafted. The stones were then
numbered and the corresponding number written on the sketches.
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GENERAL
There is some confusion as to the difference between a powder-magazine
and a blockhouse. The first was used for storing weapons and
ammunition while the latter was used by the British forces during
the Second War of Independence (1889 -1902).
They erected blockhouses in a line close to
one another to try to trap the Boers between them. The blockhouses
were also crenelated.
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This made it possible to replace them in their original
position when the magazine was rebuilt during 1977/78. The trusses
were unfortunately rotten and could not be used again, but were so
expertly reproduced and the magazine so precisely rebuilt that the
original roof could be used unaltered.
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