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Tessa Joughin | profile | all galleries >> Fact and Fiction >> Eastern Free State Farms and Towns >> Kirklington tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Kirklington

The farm "Van Niekerk's Rus" was bought by Edward Tudor Boddam-Wetham in 1910 and the name changed to "Kirklington" which was his ancestral home in Nottinghamshire, England.
In 1913 he married Ruby Newberry, the daughter of Charles Newberry, (one of the original shareholders in De Beers Diamonds), of Prynnsberg Estates in nearby Clocolan. They built up the estate and property and created a beautiful garden. Ruby's book, "A Garden in the Veld", published in 1933, was South Africa's first book on gardening. Ruby was eventually buried in her beloved garden in 1948.
The farm has remained in the family, with the estate and garden lovingly tended by successive owners, and while under the care of John and Jill Moffett, featured in Nancy Gardener's "Beautiful Gardens of South Africa". Nestled into a hillside on the western side of a kranz, it is significently warmer than most of the surrounding areas.
Now owned by James and Vanessa Moffett, the estate is certified as an organic farm. It has featured in various publications and on television in South Africa, and it will feature on the BBC in the series "Around the World in 80 Gardens" hosted by Monty Don.
One of the country roads leading to Kirklington
One of the country roads leading to Kirklington		 The road leading to the homestead..
The road leading to the homestead..		 ..over a dam wall
..over a dam wall		 Ducks on the dam
Ducks on the dam		 The homestead gates
The homestead gates
The tennis-court
The tennis-court		 Zimbabwe creeper screens the homestead
Zimbabwe creeper screens the homestead		 Beautifully cut, retainer stone walls
Beautifully cut, retainer stone walls		 A broad veranda looking over the garden and farm
A broad veranda looking over the garden and farm		 Rose covered pergola
Rose covered pergola
Stone flagged pathways lead to the homestead
Stone flagged pathways lead to the homestead		 Another pergola in the garden
Another pergola in the garden		 A rustic corner
A rustic corner		 Ruby and Edward's final resting place
Ruby and Edward's final resting place		 Lilies
Lilies
One of the cool leafy paths widing under pergolas and up steps
One of the cool leafy paths widing under pergolas and up steps		 A secluded garden near the house
A secluded garden near the house		 The sandstone swimming pool
The sandstone swimming pool		 Creepers and climbers tumble over the rocks and walls
Creepers and climbers tumble over the rocks and walls		 Charming thatched entrance to a garden cottage
Charming thatched entrance to a garden cottage
Thatched veranda
Thatched veranda		 One of the several garden cottages
One of the several garden cottages		 Stone steps to another cottage in the trees
Stone steps to another cottage in the trees		 View from a cottage through the glade
View from a cottage through the glade		 Another cottage behind the aloes
Another cottage behind the aloes
Through the trees to the swimming pool
Through the trees to the swimming pool		 Garden cottage near the swimming pool
Garden cottage near the swimming pool		 Lush and peaceful
Lush and peaceful		 Path to the homestead
Path to the homestead		 Creeper-covered stone wall
Creeper-covered stone wall
Kitchen courtyard with a rainwater barrel
Kitchen courtyard with a rainwater barrel		 Kitchen courtyard
Kitchen courtyard		 Looking out over the farm from one of the terraces
Looking out over the farm from one of the terraces		 Zig-zagged steps lead up to the higher terraces
Zig-zagged steps lead up to the higher terraces		 The homestead and one of the cottages nestled into the mountainside
The homestead and one of the cottages nestled into the mountainside
One of the beautiful sandstone sheds
One of the beautiful sandstone sheds		 The sitting Room
The sitting Room		 The Sun Porch - like a fishbowl with windows into the garden
The Sun Porch - like a fishbowl with windows into the garden		 The garden becomes part of the house
The garden becomes part of the house		 A sunny family room
A sunny family room
A portrait of Ruby which hangs in the family room
A portrait of Ruby which hangs in the family room		 The quiet garden that lies next to the house
The quiet garden that lies next to the house		 The sitting room
The sitting room		 Wooden bay window opens onto the veranda
Wooden bay window opens onto the veranda		 The bay window
The bay window

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Guest 21-Jul-2017 17:11
Hi what a nice pictures,my name is Teboho I used too stay in that farm and I was heading the cattles there during 1990 to 1995 because my family stayed there and we left to stay in Ficksburg but now I'm living in Johannesburg and I love that farm very much and my late grandmother is buried there and my really concern is if please you take the photos of that farm outside its self I would appreciate it more I wanna see that land scape more till that small village of gumtree Andi would like to come there one day just to take a look around also
Thanks
Guest 09-Jun-2009 11:37
Edward Tudor Boddam-Whetham was my great uncle. Harry B-W was my grandfather.
LynnH22-Apr-2008 17:48
Wonderful photos. I'm glad you included the story of the homestead, it makes it even more impressive. Thanks for sharing.
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