About Hanover

Rebuilt Dutch Reformed Cross Church

In the area of what is known as Hanover today, a number of stock farmers had settled as early as 1770. This area used to be known as Seekoei District.
Hanover was declared a municipal town in 1856, and soon after, plans were drawn for the Church.

The 4th Sunday of June 1859 saw the inauguration of the first Dutch Reformed Church called - the Cross Church – was built in 1858 at a cost of ₤640. Ds. Burger, later president of the Transvaal, was the first minister. He built the manse and planted a lovely garden with a variety of expensive fruit trees. The first lucern that the villagers had ever seen was planted in the manse garden. Various renovations were done to the Cross Church but it remained too small to seat the congregation. In 1906 the congregation elected to demolish the structure and build a new Church. The Pipe Organ installed was inaugurated in May 1909. in the early days the young sons of the congregation had to go into a little room at the back of the organ and pump it during the time it was played. Later when electricity became available, an electric motor with compressor was built in, and the youngsters could sit back and enjoy the music!! The organ is still in its original state, and apparently sounds as magnificent as ever. The clock in the bell tower is a Burmeister and to this day keeps perfect time - the mechanism is in its original state. It is wound twice a week. Winding the clock demands a head for heights – the appointed person must climb a wooden ladder positioned permanently inside the Church building.
The ladder reaches from ground level to almost the top of the Church spire!
There is another lovely story about Trappieskop. The first magistrate to Hanover, Mr Richard Beere, laid out a whole stone stairway, using convicts, to reach the top of the small hill. He was often seen there first thing in the morning to watch the sun rise, or late afternoon to watch the sun set. Visitors to Hanover can still follow these steps to the summit to enjoy an absolutely stunning view of the town and it’s surrounds with sunsets as only the Karoo can produce. Water restriction is not only a modernday curse – some of the erven had water rights from a free flowing spring which supplied the town with water. The water flowed in irrigation furrows alongside the streets and was controlled by means of a sluice gate system. Each resident was allocated time each week for irrigation – once at night and once during the day. The water still flows along the streets today.
The town seems to be geographically situated on the road to EVERYWHERE! at the crossroads and midpoint of the N1 S and N, and the N10 between Upington (the route to Namibia ) and eastwards towards Port Elizabeth at the coast.
I seriously need to visit Hanover! Sounds so cool. I hope you guys have the energy to climb Trappieskop and enjoy the sunset.
Just a few more arb facts - Hanover is 1400 metres above sea level. The surrounding terrain is made up of flat grasslands broken by outcrops of Karoo dolerite rock. Two landmark koppies form a boundary to the town of Hanover – “Trappieskop” and “Dassieskop”. There are many examples of dolerite outcrops which have been weathered to look like piles of squarish blocks - known as “woolsack” weathering, the rocks look like rows of stacked up wool sacks. Primary industry in the district is farming – mostly sheep but also cattle, horses and game.