Western Cape, KNYSNA district, Gouna, San Ambrosa Catholic Church, Chapel Museum, small cemetery

2023-09-19 5 images Share: Facebook , Twitter , Google+

View Slideshow

Cemetery / Memorials information:- In 1881 Italians were brought out by the Cape Government to start a silk industry in Gouna – about 14 miles north west of Knysna. There were 32 in the group – three families and a few single men – all silkworm breeders and specialists from the silk- producing districts of Northern Italy. Their names included FARDINI, POLONIA, SCIOCATTI, TORNES and CACCIAS – amongst others. They had been lured by an invitation from Henry Barrington – an English gentleman farmer to start a silk industry. The San Ambroso chapel still standing in Gouna was eventually built for them by Rev Rooney in 1891 – ten years after they arrived. It’s a tiny church – with just four pews on either side of a central nave. https://www.knysnamuseums.co.za/pages/san-ambroso-museum/ Album complete. eGGSA captions by: James Anderson The GGSA Cemetery DVD/ Cemetery Transcript Project only has information on the cemetery location. Cemetery ID: 7581 Google Earth Cemetery Initiative Information:- GPSID: 9125 GPS: -33 58.146, 23 03.223