Wilma De Bruin

This is the final installment of the special series 'The Story of Vergelegen'. It looks at the restoration undertaken by Anglo American Farms in the early 1990s and mentions a few of the illustrious guests that have visited the estate over the years. The series was based on an article compiled by Wilma de Bruin, editor of Restorica, in 1994. Once again we thank the University of Pretoria and the Heritage Association of South Africa for giving us permission to publish. Click here to start at Part 1.

The purchasing of Vergelegen by Amfarms in 1987 was welcomed by conservationists and environmentalists alike, as Amfarm’s objective was, and still is, to farm the estate and thus preserve this rural jewel for posterity.

In 1988 the Cape Town architects Rennie and Goddard were appointed to advise on redevelopment and restoration, in particular on the core historic area and major buildings. Systematic measuring up of all the fabric was undertaken immediately and dovetailed with a full cadastral survey. Extensive research and planning followed and restoration and adaptation occurred mainly during 1991 and 1992.

The East Facade (Restorica 1994)

The substantial and historically remarkable 1920s remodelling by Percy Walgate had survived relatively unscathed with minor intrusive departures amidst the overgrowth, natural wear and tear of seventy years and the marks of changing ownership.

During the restoration, archaeological findings focused on the Van der Stel records revealed most intriguing and extensive subsurface remains...

Vergelegen was to regain its former splendour with the arrival of Lady Florence (“Florrie”) Phillips and her mining magnate husband, Sir Lionel. A patron of the arts, a lady of great style and impeccable taste she set about restoring the old homestead which at that stage was described as “almost an uninhabitable ruin”.

[Click here to view Part One. Thank you to the University of Pretoria and the Heritage Association of South Africa for giving us permission to publish. Original article appeared in the 1994 edition of Restorica]

The untimely demise of her first architect, Solomon, led to the appointment of Percy Walgate, a protege of Sir Herbert Baker, to restore, refurbish and extend the homestead. With his help, she tirelessly researched Cape Dutch architecture before undertaking the restoration of Vergelegen. No fewer than 195 sketches were produced by Walgate between November 1922 and September 1923.

The front door and windows altered by Samuel Kerr were restored to the original and the four main rooms opened up. To the annoyance of some of the older inhabitants of Somerset West. Lady Phillips added two modern wings to the house: one accommodating the bedrooms, and the other the service area. These additions were in fact extremely carefully executed and blend in very harmoniously with the old part of the house. Little competition for the main H ends and fronts thus occurs. The linking areas between the central H and the wings were roofed with plastered concrete slabs. 

The gable on...

In 1994 Wilma De Bruin, editor of Restorica, compiled an extraordinary article on the history of the Vergelegen Estate with the title 'Vergelegen: a perfect blend of past and present'. We have transformed this piece into a special series. After a brief introduction, part one looks at the first two centuries at Vergelegen and then tracks the estate’s decline in the early 20th Century under the ownership of Samuel Kerr. Thank you to the University of Pretoria and the Heritage Association of South Africa (previously the Simon van der Stel Foundation) for giving us permission to publish.

When governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel established his residence in the Cape in 1700, he named it Vergelegen (literally “Far Away”). And with good reason: It was situated a full day’s ride from Cape Town, which, at the close of the 17th century, was little more than a refreshment station for the VOC ships en route to the Far East.

The reason for this remote setting at the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountains for his 400 morgen estate, is self evident: It was, as indeed it still remains, one of the loveliest of the Cape Valleys.

Its scenic splendour has not diminished with the passage of time - even though Vergelegen is now little more than a 30 minute drive from Cape Town. Today, majestic camphor trees (now national monuments), the ruins of a mill on the banks of the Lourens River, and the famous octagonal garden still bear testimony to the former gubernatorial estate...