Ladysmith

Afrikaans name: Ladysmith

Photo © Steven Herbert

KwaZulu-Natal

Ladysmith was originally established in 1850 and was named Windsor. Later that year the name was changed to Ladysmith. It was named after Juana Maria de los Dolores de Leon Smith who was the wife of the Governer of Cape Colony Sir Harry Smith.

Industries in and around Ladysmith include farming, tyre manufacturing, textiles and food processing.

A number of historic events have taken place in Ladysmith and the surrounding areas. In 1899 there were a number of small battles between the English and Boer forces. This led to the siege of Ladysmith which lasted 118 days. The Boer siege was finally ended on 28th February 1900 when Sir Redvers Buller led a successful attack on the Boers.

There are a number of interesting cannons on display at the town hall.

The Klip River flows through Ladysmith and has a history of flooding. These annual floods have taken a number of lives and caused much damage over the years.

What is there to do in and around Ladysmith?

References and further reading

Where to see Birds in KwaZulu-Natal - Author: Bennett and Herbert - Published: 1995 - Page: 65

Things ewe never knewe about South African place names - Author: Ann Gadd - Published: 2015 - Page: 125

The Pictorial Motoring Atlas of South Africa - Author: Maxwell Leigh - Published: 1987 - Page: 118

Southern African Birdfinder - Author: Cohen, Spottiswoode and Rossouw - Published: 2006 - Page: 149

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 88

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 337

On Route - Explore South Africa region by region - 3rd edition - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 2014 - Page: 244

On Route - A region by region guide to South Africa - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 1995 - Page: 156

Guide to Sieges of South Africa - Author: Nicki von der Heyde - Published: 2017 - Page: 154

Getaway - Vol 33 No 10 - Author: - Published: 2022 - Page: 84

Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 235

Farm Stall to Farm Stall - Author: Jennifer Stern - Published: 2014 - Page: 126

Book of the Road - 4th edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2019 - Page: 128

Ladysmith Travel Information

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