Somerset, encompassing Hottentot Holland farms and Somerset-West village, 1849 (lithograph)

Somerset, encompassing Hottentot Holland farms and Somerset-West village, offers a scenic landscape nestled beneath rugged mountains. The village, home to nearly two hundred people, boasts picturesque white farmhouses amidst verdant surroundings. Facing False Bay, with Cape Hanglip's dramatic cliffs, and surrounded by an amphitheater of mountains, it exudes colonial charm with Dutch mansions and farmhouses lining oak and pine avenues. Notable is an estate once owned by Dutch governor Van der Stell, now adorned with grand camphor trees. Accessible via Sir Lowry's Pass, constructed under Governor Sir Lowry Cole's direction, Somerset-West lies about thirty-five miles from Cape Town, offering a serene journey over the mountains. DISCLAIMER: THIS DIGITIZED RESOURCE CONTAINS COLONIAL-ERA MATERIALS WITH POTENTIALLY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE AND ATTITUDES. APPROACH WITH HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND DISCRETION