To Market, To Market on Reconciliation Day

Melrose House

It is Reconciliation Day in South Africa and since we had the day off, we visited two historic houses. The first was Melrose House in Pretoria and the second was the Smuts House in nearby Irene.

Smuts House

To be totally truthful, we didn't go to tour the houses - although we did. We went because their grounds played host to two markets. The Irene Village Christmas Market and the Melrose House Charity Antique & Collectibles Fair.

The Irene Village Market is an art market on the shady grounds of the Smuts House Museum about 40 kilometres north of Johannesburg. The market is famous for its rustic, 'old-world' setting on the slopes of Smuts Hill, just a stone's throw from the village of Irene on the banks of the Hennops River. Only original art and craft are traded with exhibitors and their wares undergo a strict selection process.






 

some WWII artifacts on the grounds

The Smuts House was originally an Officers' Mess in Middleburg during the Anglo-Boer Wars. The building was purchased by General Jan Smuts and re-erected on the grounds in 1908. The Smuts family took occupation of it in 1909. General Smuts died in the house in 1950.

entrance to the market

Afikaans toile tablecloths

Since Irene is steeped in Afrikaans heritage, many of the crafts reflected their culture.

there were some African crafts too

And lots of local fare ... like Vetkoek.

I got the one filled with apricot jam and cream cheese. It is about as close to an apricot cheese danish as I am ever going to get here.

And Rooster Koek.

Vince had the spek, eier and kaas Rooster Koek. (Bacon, egg and cheese, the original Egg Mcmuffin.)

Melrose House Antique & Collectibles Fair

Next stop, Melrose House.

I had been looking for an antique map of Africa. This "New Map of Africa" is from Antwerp and is circa 1596-1612.

I love the fictional animals on these ancient maps.

Melrose House itself became famous during the Second Boer War (1899 to 1902) because it was used as the headquarters of the British forces. For 18 months, the war effort against the Boers was strategised from 275 Jacob Mare Street.

The Peace Treaty of Vereeniging that ended the war was signed around the massive dining table at Melrose House on 31 May 1902.

Melrose House dining room

Happy Reconciliation Day!