The Blacksmith's

Image

The Blacksmith’s Stables Guest House

The historic, comfortable and elegant Blacksmith’s Stables is located in the heart of Rosendal’s heritage district, close to shops and restaurants and adjacent to Rosendal’s stylish Service Station Wine Bar. It is housed in a beautifully converted sandstone barn with a large open plan main living room, cathedral ceiling and flagstone floor.

The master bedroom, with Queen size bed, is located at the far end of the building behind a giant book case and includes more than ample closet and storage space. The Loft has two ¾ beds. A fold-out couch allows for a maximum of 6 people. Large kitchen, bathroom with clawfoot tub and separate 2nd WC.

Outdoor eating and lounge area under a covered stoep with braai, looking onto a beautiful courtyard.

Directions

Image
fas fa-bed

Type: House - Self-catering
Sleeps: 6 people
Pet Friendly: Yes

fas fa-wifi

Braai Area
Free Wifi
Secure PArking

History of the Blacksmith's stables

This is likely Rosendal’s oldest building, dating from before the town’s founding in 1908. A property deed was issued retroactively in 1912 when the town was first properly surveyed, and which is the first written record, although there are many other buildings in Rosendal from this year also. The design incorporates a long sandstone barn, typical of the rural Free State, and with gable end roof trusses added later. A blacksmith’s shop with livery stables is known to have operated from here at what was a prominent site in the town’s early years, next to the Senekal to Ficksburg crossroads at Kriek and Van der Merwe Street and between the Post Office and General Dealer store. Rosendal’s first Church services took place here, under wagon buck sails for additional shelter, before the present Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1914. Blacksmiths worked from this site until the 1950s after which the Service Station was built as a mechanic’s shop at the front of the property. The barn then became a grain store for the farmers cooperative at the old General Dealer building next door. A Mr Castelain was the last blacksmith to have worked from this building, and whose repute was for being a man who could not be crossed.