Nasmus

31 Kellner Street, Westdene

Freshford House Museum is one of the few houses of the upper middle class of the Edwardian Period that still exists in Bloemfontein. The house was designed and built by the architect John Edwin Harrison for himself and his wife, Kate Caroline. Born and trained in England, Harrison immigrated to South Africa in 1894 and a few years later entered into a partnership with the architect W.H. Stucke.

Freshford House was completed in 1897, i.e. during a transition between the Late Victorian and Edwardian periods. The house, with its asymmetrical facade, unplastered red brick walls, bay windows, veranda with carved wood and corrugated iron roof with cast-iron finishes, is a typical example of a residence during this period in Bloemfontein.

The house was acquired by the National Museum in 1982 and restored to its original form. The Freshford House Museum was opened to the public in 1986.  A Late Victorian Period garden was laid out on the site to complement the house.

Open

Monday to Friday

10:00am – 1:00pm

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays

2:00pm - 5:00pm

Closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day

Entrance fees

R10.00 (adults)
R5.00 (children)
Special group tours can be arranged.

Contact

The Curator

Mrs Mimi Pretorius     mimi [at] nasmus [dot] co [dot] za
Tel: +27 51 447 9609

Mimi obtained her BA degree and teachers diploma at the University of Stellenbosch in 1974.  She has been the Curator of Freshford House Museum since 1992.