Mamre, Western Cape

The mission station at Mamre was established in 1808 by the German Moravian Society at the invitation of the Governor of the Cape.

The area had long been regarded as a sanctuary for the few remaining Hottentot tribes.

The missionaries took over abandoned military buildings and built a church, a school and a watermill and laid out the present picturesque settlement of white-walled, blackthatched cottages.

The original church and parsonage retain their charm and were listed as national monumnets in 1967. the watermill has been restored and is now a museum.

A walk down the lane leads past gardens planted with the particular type of fruit trees favoured by the missionaries - quinces, pomegranates, figs and grape vines. 

The mission shop, with a decayed old tree in front, is rich in the atmosphere of the past.