Escape to one of the most beautiful historic homes in the scenic Eastern Free State. Keble Estate is a peaceful self-catering retreat on a working 310-hectare farm with superb mountain walks and a pool. This serene paradise is ideal for family reunions, weddings, retreats and getaways.
The 140 year-old estate sleeps 10 guests in 5 bedrooms and has its own chapel set in a magnificent formal Victorian garden. The Manor House still has original features including woodwork and wainscoting and quaint art-deco taps in the basins and baths. Guests have the entire self-catering estate to themselves.
The first and second bedrooms are located in the Manor House. The first bedroom contains a queen-size bed and the second bedroom contains a double bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin. The third and fourth bedrooms are located upstairs in the separate Coach House. The third bedroom contains 2 single beds, and the fourth bedroom contains a queen-size bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom fitted with a bath, a toilet, and a washbasin. The fifth bedroom is set in a garden cottage outside the Coach House and is furnished with 2 three-quarter beds and its own en-suite bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin.
The large farmhouse kitchen is well-equipped for self-catering with a fridge, stove and oven, microwave, cutlery and crockery. The large separate dining room features a 10-seater dining table and chairs. The spacious lounge offers ample seating as well as a fireplace and a TV.
Guests can relax on the verandah with its magnificent view of the ‘Judges Head’ sandstone mountain, dine al fresco under the wisteria, visit the horses and sheep at the stables, play snooker or pool on the full-sized table, relax at the pool, or play croquet and boulle.
Mostly, however, guests enjoy the history, ambience and quiet pleasures of the estate. Keble was founded by Anglican priest, Algernon Harcourt Vernon, in 1882, who had studied Divinity at Keble College, Oxford University. Born in Nottinghamshire, and a direct descendant of William the Conqueror, he came to join his sister, Mother Frances, Mother Superior of the Community of St Michael and All Saints in Bloemfontein, and was priest vicar of the Bloemfontein Cathedral before moving to the Clocolan parish. While In Bloemfontein, he baptised infant J.R.R Tolkien who went on to write Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Homesick and very British, Harcourt Vernon carved a princely estate in the wild Free State with its prolific game. He and his wife Muriel lived at Keble in the English country style. He built the Victorian mansion and a chapel, using beautiful, cut Free State sandstone, and even brought acorns from Sherwood Forest to create a stately oak avenue.
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Keble Estate
Keble Estate
Keble Estate
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The 140 year-old estate sleeps 10 guests in 5 bedrooms and has its own chapel set in a magnificent formal Victorian garden. The Manor House still has original features including woodwork and wainscoting and quaint art-deco taps in the basins and baths. Guests have the entire self-catering estate to themselves.
The first and second bedrooms are located in the Manor House. The first bedroom contains a queen-size bed and the second bedroom contains a double bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin. The third and fourth bedrooms are located upstairs in the separate Coach House. The third bedroom contains 2 single beds, and the fourth bedroom contains a queen-size bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom fitted with a bath, a toilet, and a washbasin. The fifth bedroom is set in a garden cottage outside the Coach House and is furnished with 2 three-quarter beds and its own en-suite bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin.
The large farmhouse kitchen is well-equipped for self-catering with a fridge, stove and oven, microwave, cutlery and crockery. The large separate dining room features a 10-seater dining table and chairs. The spacious lounge offers ample seating as well as a fireplace and a TV.
Guests can relax on the verandah with its magnificent view of the ‘Judges Head’ sandstone mountain, dine al fresco under the wisteria, visit the horses and sheep at the stables, play snooker or pool on the full-sized table, relax at the pool, or play croquet and boulle.
Mostly, however, guests enjoy the history, ambience and quiet pleasures of the estate. Keble was founded by Anglican priest, Algernon Harcourt Vernon, in 1882, who had studied Divinity at Keble College, Oxford University. Born in Nottinghamshire, and a direct descendant of William the Conqueror, he came to join his sister, Mother Frances, Mother Superior of the Community of St Michael and All Saints in Bloemfontein, and was priest vicar of the Bloemfontein Cathedral before moving to the Clocolan parish. While In Bloemfontein, he baptised infant J.R.R Tolkien who went on to write Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Homesick and very British, Harcourt Vernon carved a princely estate in the wild Free State with its prolific game. He and his wife Muriel lived at Keble in the English country style. He built the Victorian mansion and a chapel, using beautiful, cut Free State sandstone, and even brought acorns from Sherwood Forest to create a stately oak avenue.
The 140 year-old estate sleeps 10 guests in 5 bedrooms and has its own chapel set in a magnificent formal Victorian garden. The Manor House still has original features including woodwork and wainscoting and quaint art-deco taps in the basins and baths. Guests have the entire self-catering estate to themselves.
The first and second bedrooms are located in the Manor House. The first bedroom contains a queen-size bed and the second bedroom contains a double bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin. The third and fourth bedrooms are located upstairs in the separate Coach House. The third bedroom contains 2 single beds, and the fourth bedroom contains a queen-size bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom fitted with a bath, a toilet, and a washbasin. The fifth bedroom is set in a garden cottage outside the Coach House and is furnished with 2 three-quarter beds and its own en-suite bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin.
The large farmhouse kitchen is well-equipped for self-catering with a fridge, stove and oven, microwave, cutlery and crockery. The large separate dining room features a 10-seater dining table and chairs. The spacious lounge offers ample seating as well as a fireplace and a TV.
Guests can relax on the verandah with its magnificent view of the ‘Judges Head’ sandstone mountain, dine al fresco under the wisteria, visit the horses and sheep at the stables, play snooker or pool on the full-sized table, relax at the pool, or play croquet and boulle.
Mostly, however, guests enjoy the history, ambience and quiet pleasures of the estate. Keble was founded by Anglican priest, Algernon Harcourt Vernon, in 1882, who had studied Divinity at Keble College, Oxford University. Born in Nottinghamshire, and a direct descendant of William the Conqueror, he came to join his sister, Mother Frances, Mother Superior of the Community of St Michael and All Saints in Bloemfontein, and was priest vicar of the Bloemfontein Cathedral before moving to the Clocolan parish. While In Bloemfontein, he baptised infant J.R.R Tolkien who went on to write Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Homesick and very British, Harcourt Vernon carved a princely estate in the wild Free State with its prolific game. He and his wife Muriel lived at Keble in the English country style. He built the Victorian mansion and a chapel, using beautiful, cut Free State sandstone, and even brought acorns from Sherwood Forest to create a stately oak avenue.
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Reviews (3)
3 guests' feedbackFive is hopelessly too few, a handful of stars for Keble Estate! Our weekend was absolutely fantastic in every sense of the word. Many thanks to our friendly hosts Peter and Sarah, for the great privilege and for sharing this beautiful farm with its breathtaking view and rich history with us. We returned to the city with full hearts and wonderful memories. We will definitely visit again.
Lovely old-world charm in the most beautiful part of the Eastern Free State. Definately worth the effort to brave the bad pothole road to experience the part of the Free State. The house is well equipped with lots of crockery and kitchen utensils. Beds are comfortable and value for money for a group or family that can use all 5 bedrooms. The garden is breathtaking, walk out the big wooden front door and feel like a grong baron in 1900. Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful place with travelers. Here and there the old standstone house needs repairs, but for sure it's a project in the making and it doesn't detract from the quality of the experience. We were seven friends who could relax, visit and laugh in the coolness of the porch.
It was really something special to be able to stay in such a historic place.
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House rules
- The house is serviced, which includes cleaning the rooms, making beds, and washing dishes. The cleaning lady would appreciate a tip from guests for good service.- Smoking is not allowed inside the house.
- No wild parties are permitted.
- Pets are permitted by prior arrangement, however, please ensure your pets don't chase the sheep, horses or cattle, or climb on the furniture.
- Please respect that this is our family home.
- TV remotes break easily and should be kept away from kids.
- Our full-size snooker table is an antique. Please treat it with care.
- Please don't remove our books.
The 140 year-old estate sleeps 10 guests in 5 bedrooms and has its own chapel set in a magnificent formal Victorian garden. The Manor House still has original features including woodwork and wainscoting and quaint art-deco taps in the basins and baths. Guests have the entire self-catering estate to themselves.
The first and second bedrooms are located in the Manor House. The first bedroom contains a queen-size bed and the second bedroom contains a double bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin. The third and fourth bedrooms are located upstairs in the separate Coach House. The third bedroom contains 2 single beds, and the fourth bedroom contains a queen-size bed. These 2 rooms share a bathroom fitted with a bath, a toilet, and a washbasin. The fifth bedroom is set in a garden cottage outside the Coach House and is furnished with 2 three-quarter beds and its own en-suite bathroom with a bath, a toilet and a washbasin.
The large farmhouse kitchen is well-equipped for self-catering with a fridge, stove and oven, microwave, cutlery and crockery. The large separate dining room features a 10-seater dining table and chairs. The spacious lounge offers ample seating as well as a fireplace and a TV.
Guests can relax on the verandah with its magnificent view of the ‘Judges Head’ sandstone mountain, dine al fresco under the wisteria, visit the horses and sheep at the stables, play snooker or pool on the full-sized table, relax at the pool, or play croquet and boulle.
Mostly, however, guests enjoy the history, ambience and quiet pleasures of the estate. Keble was founded by Anglican priest, Algernon Harcourt Vernon, in 1882, who had studied Divinity at Keble College, Oxford University. Born in Nottinghamshire, and a direct descendant of William the Conqueror, he came to join his sister, Mother Frances, Mother Superior of the Community of St Michael and All Saints in Bloemfontein, and was priest vicar of the Bloemfontein Cathedral before moving to the Clocolan parish. While In Bloemfontein, he baptised infant J.R.R Tolkien who went on to write Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Homesick and very British, Harcourt Vernon carved a princely estate in the wild Free State with its prolific game. He and his wife Muriel lived at Keble in the English country style. He built the Victorian mansion and a chapel, using beautiful, cut Free State sandstone, and even brought acorns from Sherwood Forest to create a stately oak avenue.