Verulam, a town rich in history, will soon celebrate its 175th anniversary- a milestone befitting its notoriety. To commemorate this occasion, president of the 1860 Indentured Labourers Foundation, Verulam, and the Shree Gopal Lal Hindu Temple Trust, Jaysingh Singh, spoke to the Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid about the town’s fascinating history.
Verulam’s name is derived from Verulamium, an ancient Roman settlement located approximately 40km north of London. The Roman name ‘Verlomion’ originates from a Celtic Iron Age settlement, meaning ‘Settlement above the Marsh’.
The town’s story began in the mid-19th century, when the potato famine in Ireland and Scotland, coupled with poverty in England, drove many settlers to seek a new life in Natal. In 1849, William Josiah Irons initiated the Wesleyan Settler Movement in the then-colony of Natal.
According to Singh, the Barque King William, a 463-ton vessel from London and Plymouth, arrived on 23 January 1850, carrying 400 passengers sent by the Christian Protestant Emigration Society. These passengers were intent on settling in a new home. Singh said: “On 13 March 1850, Thomas Champeon, the leader of the Wesleyan Settlers, officially raised the flag of Verulam, bearing the name in bold letters of gold emblazoned on a dark blue background. This marked the official establishment of the town.”
“By this act, the town of Verulam was officially established on the south bank of the Umdhloti river on 13 March 1850.”
Singh said that the land chosen for the town was the present day Recreation Grounds, back then, it was a mere hill overlooking a marsh. This location was reminiscent of the site in St Albans, England, which was originally named Verulamium.
In the early days, the region was thickly wooded and interspersed with grassland, with kraals scattered throughout. The area teemed with wildlife, including herds of elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, and pythons.
Singh shared a fascinating account from one of the diaries of that period, which mentioned herds of elephants causing a nuisance to crops, leopards seizing stock, and a story about Mrs Fynney’s encounter with a lion in the cattle kraal. Singh said: “In one of the diaries of that period reference is made to herds of elephants causing a nuisance to the crops, leopards seizing stock and a story about Mrs Fynney. While her husband was away, she heard a noise in the cattle kraal and went with the lantern and a servant to investigate. To her horror she found a lion in the cattle kraal and fled.”
Throughout the 1850s, Verulam developed significantly, becoming an important centre for socialisation, particularly for religious, political, and economic activities. Singh said that the town was officially declared the capital of Victoria County and became a separate magistracy in May 1852.
Today, as Verulam celebrates its 175th anniversary, its motto “Floreat Verulam” or “Let Verulam Prosper” remains a testament to the town’s enduring spirit.
