The
community of Knysna became established during the Eighteenth
Century and was originally the home to Wood Cutters and Stock
Farmers alike. The word "Knysna" is a Khoi word and
whilst its exact meaning remains unknown, it is said to symbolize
water.
Water and wood have always played an intricate part in the history
and development of Knysna, and it was the demand for wood from
the British Royal Navy in the early Nineteenth Century, that
really caused the little town to grow. The famous George Rex
had arrived in "The Knysna" in approximately 1797
and believed to be of Royal descent and was involved with the
Royal Navy.
It was through his encouragement that the Vice Admiral of the
Royal Navy, Sir Jahleel Brenton saw fit to ship wood from this
small town, using its lagoon as a Port.
There is no secret about how treacherous the passage between
the Knysna Heads is for those who travel by sea. In 1817 the
first attempt was made to ship timber through the Heads. It
was only many years later, in 1831 that the first ship finally
managed to navigate her way beyond the Heads and onto the Atlantic
Ocean. The cargo was 140 tons of Stinkwood.
It was to this small Wood Mecca that George and Fanny Parkes
came in 1891. Also from a timber (and Steelworks) background,
George Parkes stumbled upon "The Knysna" quite unintentionally.
He was so impressed with what he saw that the Parkes family
never left. In fact they opened up a Sawmill and became the
first people to export manufactured wooden items from Knysna.
The "Geo Parkes & Sons" Log yard remained operational
in the centre of town where Woodmill Lane Shopping Centre now
stands, until as recently as 1984. It moved to the industrial
area, where it remains to this day.
The family lived first on a farm outside of Knysna, Hoogekraal,
and only later in 1927 did they create the beautiful home that
you now enjoy today. |
