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Tessa Joughin | profile | all galleries >> Fact and Fiction >> Ancient and Modern - Sandstone Homesteads of the Eastern Free State >> Keble tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Keble

Keble was built in the mid 1870s for an Anglican priest, The Reverend Algernon Harcourt-Vernon, and named after Keble College at Oxford University where he studied Divinity.
It is one of only three grand old homes built in colonial/Victorian style in the Free State – the others being Prynnsberg and Westminster.
Beautiful, cut Free State sandstone, reputedly from the same quarry used for the Union Buildings in Pretoria has been used in the construction of the main house, the 111-year old chapel, St Michael and All Angels, and the Coach House and other buildings on the property.
Keble Estate is 310,55ha in extent. It was the first commercial Jersey Stud in the Free Sate, and for many years was a racehorse stud with a famous breeding stallion, Magic Link.
Keble remained in the extended Harcourt-Vernon family for well over a century. Family owners included the racehorse trainer Heather Sunderland, and former Anglo American chief executive Tony Trahar.
Keble has a colourful history and horses from the estate were transported to nearby Modderpoort for the use of the royal family during their 1948 visit to South Africa.
During the Boer war a battle was fought on top of the mountains and shells dating back to 1902 have been found there.
In 1997 Keble was acquired by its present owners and has been used as a private country retreat for the past 10 years
Keble lies in a ring of mountains
Keble lies in a ring of mountains		 An oak avenue 1 km long leads to the homestead
An oak avenue 1 km long leads to the homestead		 The end of the oak avenue.
The end of the oak avenue.		 The farm road to Keble
The farm road to Keble		 The end of the road
The end of the road
The homestead
The homestead		 Front gate
Front gate		 The gate
The gate		 View from the entrance gate
View from the entrance gate		 Sandstone pond
Sandstone pond
Fountain
Fountain		 The pond
The pond		 Homestead and deodar tree
Homestead and deodar tree		 The beautiful terraced garden
The beautiful terraced garden		 Front steps
Front steps
Front hall
Front hall		 Passage
Passage		 Passage
Passage		 Staircase
Staircase		 Dining room
Dining room
Sitting room
Sitting room		 The cosy study
The cosy study		 Farm kitchen
Farm kitchen		 An Esse stove stands in the corner
An Esse stove stands in the corner		 View from the kitchen door to the chapel
View from the kitchen door to the chapel
St Michael and All Angels Chapel
St Michael and All Angels Chapel		 Chapel interior
Chapel interior		 This image of Canon Harcourt-Vernon hangs in the chapel
This image of Canon Harcourt-Vernon hangs in the chapel		 Up to the pool
Up to the pool		 The back garden showing the Chapel, Coach House, pool and guest cottage
The back garden showing the Chapel, Coach House, pool and guest cottage
Down from the pool
Down from the pool		 The Coach House
The Coach House		 A Moon Gate leads down to the Chapel and house
A Moon Gate leads down to the Chapel and house		 The Coach House through the Moon Gate
The Coach House through the Moon Gate		 Window shades for the fierce South African sun
Window shades for the fierce South African sun
View from the Chapel
View from the Chapel		 Broad veranda under a wisteria vine
Broad veranda under a wisteria vine		 The gnarled trunk of the wisteria vine betrays it's age
The gnarled trunk of the wisteria vine betrays it's age		 Cool veranda
Cool veranda		 L-shaped veranda runs down front and side of the house
L-shaped veranda runs down front and side of the house
Shuttered study window and bench overlooking the front garden
Shuttered study window and bench overlooking the front garden		 View into the side garden
View into the side garden		 The Guest Cottage
The Guest Cottage		 Guest Cottage
Guest Cottage		 Guest Cottage overlooking old tennis court
Guest Cottage overlooking old tennis court
Pathway from guest cottage to paddocks and sheds
Pathway from guest cottage to paddocks and sheds		 Sheds and stables
Sheds and stables		 Stone steps up to the loft
Stone steps up to the loft		 The loft has a wooden floor
The loft has a wooden floor		 The stable block
The stable block
Stable courtyard
Stable courtyard		 Stable courtyard
Stable courtyard		 Tractor sheds
Tractor sheds		 Grazing at the foot of the mountain
Grazing at the foot of the mountain		 The sheds and stables
The sheds and stables
Looking back at homestead from the paddocks
Looking back at homestead from the paddocks		 The Judge's Head peak
The Judge's Head peak		 The homestead from across the paddocks
The homestead from across the paddocks		 360°panorama of Keble garden and paddocks
360°panorama of Keble garden and paddocks		 The Chinese tool shed
The Chinese tool shed
Under the deodar tree
Under the deodar tree		 A rustic bench swings from the deodar's branch.
A rustic bench swings from the deodar's branch.		 Swing bench
Swing bench		 Grazing horses
Grazing horses		 Sandstone Chinese lantern
Sandstone Chinese lantern
View to wards Coach House
View to wards Coach House		 Kitchen entrance
Kitchen entrance		 One of the garages housing a vintage car
One of the garages housing a vintage car		 Driving away from the homestead
Driving away from the homestead		 View over the fields to the Malutis
View over the fields to the Malutis

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George Harcourt-Vernon 05-Jan-2013 21:51
Dear Dierdre, This is the first time I have seen pictures of the home where I grew up at Keble Clocolan. Nostalgic certainly. I went to Keble in 1948 and left the farm in 1963, to teach in Bloemfontien.
Deirdre McElroy 27-Jul-2011 19:20
I visited Keble in 2006. Algernon Harcourt Vernon was my great grandfather. The photos you have taken are superb. thanks for sharing them
Guest 22-Feb-2009 12:27
A VERY INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL
COLLECTION IF FINE IMAGES! V
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