Somerset West is built on the banks of the Lourens River and was originally used as a cattle post in 1672. The world famous Vergelegen Farm was built by Willem Adriaan van der Stel, son of Simon van der Stel who served as Governor of the Cape. However, the town Somerset was only founded in 1822 and is named after Lord Charles Henry Somerset, Governor of the Cape Colony during the 1800’s.
In 1825 Somerset became Somerset West to avoid confusion with Somerset East, which is situated in the Eastern Cape.