Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post

Guest

Nice one Steve, where did all the buildings come from? scratch

Guest

Great stuff mate! i have quit a bit of material from
the illustrated papers of the period, they are getting
more expensive now, even for a single page! Steven
Hopkins used to throw them in for free, if he knew
you and liked the size of your order lol, Les

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

I just noticed the broken glass on top of the wall. Ouch!

Steve

Subject: Re: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:21 pm

Steve the old buildings were converted into Fort Bromhead But that looks very different, not to sure any modern image would compare. I wonder if this isn't the inside of Fort Melvill?

cheers

Subject: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:02 am

Hi Steve
As Springy has mentioned no pics of today are any way comparable to those which you posted ....unfortunately $Don\'t agree$
Cheers 90th Salute

Subject: Re: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Sat Jul 26, 2014 4:44 am

Hi Steve
That clarifies that the first illustration 'should' be Fort Bromhead. Its very definitely got a touch of artistic license though. Have a look at John Youngs avatar, that's a photo at the same time period.. I think that the building on the right up front would represent the old store house but the balance running of into the distance is very exaggerated, Interesting sketch though.
Cheers

Subject: Re: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:19 pm

rusteze wrote:: Exactly Les, I didn't imagine the rebuild to be that extensive, must have obliterated much of what was there during the defence.
Here's another from the inside of the new structure.

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Steve

Any one know who thought of using broken glass on top of the walls, it wouldn't get past health and safety these days but I do remember it being used on old factory walls.
Any one got a date of when it was first used.?

Subject: Interior of Old RD Post Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:30 pm

Hi Cromwell
The British also broke and spread glass around the ground near their encampments
.
Cheers 90th Salute

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

I think you can make a pretty good guess as to when broken glass was first used for defence purposes. It would have been when glass bottles were mass produced and became cheap throw away objects. Before the mid 19th c. glass was heavily taxed and so would have been much too expensive. After that time military camps would be awash with beer bottles for the ranks and wine bottles for the officers!

Steve

Subject: Interior of Old RD Post Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:45 am

Hi Steve '' Hiccup '' correct ! Salute

'' Hiccup '' .
cheers 90th Rolling Eyes

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

While in Oz they developed the deadly Tinnie encrusted wall.

Steve

Subject: Interior of old RD post Thu Jul 31, 2014 10:52 am

Hi Steve
That's correct , I got my hand caught in it once ! Shocked

90th

Subject: Re: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:59 am

Springbok9 wrote:: That clarifies that the first illustration 'should' be Fort Bromhead. Its very definitely got a touch of artistic license though. Have a look at John Youngs avatar, that's a photo at the same time period..

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Fort Bromhead, 1879.
John Young Collection.

John Y.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Thanks John, great blow-up. Just shows the resolution of the old glass plate cameras.

Steve

Subject: Re: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Sun Aug 03, 2014 12:19 pm

I imported the original shot and photo into Auto Cad. There is a lot of common ground between the two if the perspective on the sketch is adjusted. So well done the original artist, it works. But coming back to your original comment Steve there really is nothing on the ground at present that would be used as comparison Im afraid.

Cheers

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Hi Frank

In the sketch there is a long line of stones, on the ground, stretching between two barrels and beyond. Does this coincide with the line of stones in your photographs of the present Museum building?

Steve

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Look at Sprinboks photo's

Subject: Re: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Sun Aug 03, 2014 2:47 pm

Hi Steve
No the line of stones presently on the ground is a bit further out, away, form the store. There is a second line of stones as well, it looks to me to be more like the edging of a roadway. Ive been looking through my albums, I do have shots from the same spot looking in the same direction but they really do show very little. I will pop a few on tomorrow for you to have a look at.

Cheers

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Thanks Frank. Has anyone ever excavated the foundations of the slightly later defences? Never know what might have been chucked in.

Steve

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

"Webley, L. “Archaeological Investigations at the Battlefield of Rorke's Drift, Northern Natal.” Southern African Field Archaeology 2, no. 1 (1993): 24–34; reprinted as “Archaeological Investigations at the Battlefield of Rorke’s Drift.” Journal of the Anglo Zulu War Historical Society 8 (December 2000)"

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Thanks CT

Steve

Subject: Re: Interior of old Rorke's Drift Post Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:14 pm

Steve
This should assist
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Cheers

» my first post.I am going to Rorke's drift and the site for Zulu film any tips
» rorkes drift.
» Rorkes Drift Bullding.