The village of Cookhouse was located on the farm Roodewal and, as was common with many early colonial settlements, it was founded near a river crossing. It probably derived its name from a small stone structure located close to a ford over the Great Fish river which, until 1819, was the eastern boundary of the Cape. The building was used by British military patrols as a halt, during which they could shelter inside and prepare their meals. Hence the name of a "cookhouse".