Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Westminster Estate Buildings: The Schoolhouse Tweespruit district, Free State BAKER, MASEY and SLOPER: Architect

Date: 1906 Type: School Style: Kent Style : Baker School Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 29°10'44.13" S 27°08'36.66" E Alt: 1638m

The schoolhouse was designed so that it could be used as a church on Sundays. It is a long rectangular building with a bell tower. (Greig 1970:147-8) The southern side is also a double storey dwelling. In 1980 Tony DOHERTY designed a similar dual functional hall at Uplands School in White River, Mpumalanga, with an altar at one end and stage at the other. ___________________________ Reminiscences by Septieme Cecilia Kriek (nee Cilliers) who was born while her parents lived in the house and lived there until 1950. "MY PARENTS : William, Alphonso Cilliers and Huibrecht Catharina du Toit got married on 7 April, 1932 and started their married life at the 'Schoolhouse'. They stayed there until the end of 1950 and then moved to Bloemfontein. My father was the Headmaster/teacher and usually had an assistant for the Junior Pupils. They taught from Sub A - Std 6. (He was known as Meester). The Juniors were accommodated in the hall at the main building. My father taught the Seniors in the separate school building. The west side of this classroom looked as if it was never finished. The reason for this was to add on in later years, if it was necessary. Four children were born: 1935 Fleuret Delis (now) Van Niekerk 1938 Jan Francois Fonzo Cilliers 1942 Septieme Cecilia (now) Kriek 1946 Ezra Johannes Cilliers As a farewell gift my parents were given a water colour painting of the 'SCHOOLHOUSE'. All four children are very blessed, all still alive and have wonderful memories of the Schoolhouse. (We used to climb out of the window onto the verandas roof, lay on a mattress and looked at the stars!!!!) We try to pay the Schoolhouse a visit whenever we can." (SC Kriek, 30 March 2015)