Lindfield Victorian House Museum — Attraction in Johannesburg Ward 69

A Visit to the Lindfield Victorian House — A Most Enchanting Excursion

At the hour of two o’clock in the afternoon, on a temperate and fair day, my father, mother, and I had the singular pleasure of visiting the Lindfield Victorian House — a most charming and well-preserved relic of a bygone age. Where many such places fall into sterility or neglect, this house lives still, imbued with the warmth and character of the nineteenth century, owing chiefly to the presence and care of its current resident, the gracious Miss Katherine Love.

Miss Love, who yet resides in the home, received us with all the warmth and elegance befitting a lady of true Victorian sensibility. A woman of discernment and hospitality, she proved a most delightful guide and companion. Her collection of artifacts, amassed with great diligence over the years, is both vast and remarkable — a veritable treasury of domestic and cultural history. Each room we entered bore the unmistakable touch of loving curation; nothing felt out of place or merely displayed, but rather as though the house itself continued in quiet conversation with the past.

We wandered through parlours adorned with period furnishings, into the scullery rich with old implements, and past rooms whose every corner held a whisper of history. At times, we found ourselves nearly forgetting the present hour, so wholly were we transported into another world.

What moved us most, however, was not solely the objects, but the soul behind them. Miss Love has created not only a space of remembrance, but one of reverence — a sanctuary for the memory of those who came before. Her kindness to us as guests matched her devotion to her calling as caretaker of this noble house.

As we took our leave, we found ourselves reflecting upon the words of our Lord in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter six: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Indeed, we do pray that Miss Love, who has so faithfully tended to her earthly trove, may one day find a greater inheritance awaiting her above — a treasure incorruptible.

In sum, the Lindfield Victorian House is more than a museum; it is a living testament to the quiet glory of the past, kept alive by the hands and heart of a most remarkable woman.

— With sincere admiration, Visitors at the second hour past noon.

Mr. & Mrs. Terblanche {with their son, S....

I've been to many museums, both locally and overseas, and this tour unequivocally is one of the finest you'll experience! Katherine Love is a warm, gracious and urbane lady that will blow your mind with her in-depth knowledge of the thousands of authentic Victorian antiques and memoribilia within the house's twenty-four rooms. In addition, she will enlighten interested visitors with her extensive understanding and encyclopedic knowledge of the Victorian era This is a collection that rivals the finest Victorian catalogues in the world and one could spend far more time than the approximately one-and-a-half tour admiring the intricate and beautifully designed objects on display. The highlight of the tour for me was the incredibly detailed and large-sized doll house that Ms Love and her mother built by hand, which gives a further window into this lady's dedication and skills on the subject. Lindfield Victorian House should be richly supported as the great danger is that this meticulous Victorian collection gathered over decades by the delightful Ms Love could be lost forever due to the general lack of interest about this topic amongst academics and the public at large in this country. Such a loss would be...

This is a gem of a South African Victorian home nestled slap bang in the middle of a university town. It's like stepping into a time capsule that transports you to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Everything in the home gives you a glimpse into the time period and the tour guide is very knowledgeable and has made some of the pieces herself. The continuity is concerning as she doesn't get any governmental support (despite her home being a literal museum). She is unsure of what will happen to her home as she is the last person in her lineage and has no children. The garden and home are very well maintained and she takes pride in what she has been able to put together (very impreasive). This was worth every cent and I will...