Bertram House – a Museum now part of the Iziko family
Bertram House on Government Avenue – a museum well worth a visit
When: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00/Closed Sundays, Christmas Day and Worker’s Day
Where: Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street, Gardens
Tel: 021 481 3972
What to expect: English Georgian-style house reflecting 19th century Cape Town.
The Bertram House in Government Avenue is the only remaining example of the typical English Georgian-style red brick houses that were very common in Cape Town somewhat a century and a half ago. Built in 1839 by John Barker (an English notary and immigrant), the Bertram house was named after his wife; Ann Bertram Findlay.
The Bertram House became a home to several families after which the South African College took over the house in 1903 and used it as office space, just to be reassigned to the government of the Union of South Africa in 1930 and finally transferred to the South African History Museum in 1976.
The Bertram House is now part of the IZIKO family.
In 1984 the house museum was opened with a spectacular collection and exhibition of mainly porcelain and furniture and until today…
…depicts the life and home of a wealthy English family living in Cape Town during the first couple of decades of the 19th century.
The generous Mrs Winifred Ann Lidderdale donated ten major collections to the museum, comprising of 364 items.
The museum comprises of 5 exhibition rooms on the first floor, two of which have been set aside for special temporary collections. The first permanent exhibition room is a display of equipment connected with the feminine arts during the Georgian period such as needlework and letter writing.
Another room has a selection of English silver on exhibition with some pieces dating back as far as 1781. The third room is dedicated to personal accessories and jewellery, with over 30 items of Victorian jewellery and some dating back to 1790. The collection of English furniture also adds up to a total of 58 magnificent Georgian pieces that include furniture such as the Queen Anne Bureau Bookcase (1702-1714) and the William and Mary Fall Front Secretaire (1679-1702).
Detail is drawn right through to the oriental carpets, collections of books, brass candlesticks and Georgian wine glasses that collectively add to creating the olden-day picture of a prosperous English family living in Cape Town at the beginning of the 19th century.
Content: Ed Beukes