Somerset West freedom & faith
Initially built by Christian missionaries in the mid 1830s, this small, historic neighbourhood has many buildings still used for their original purpose.
Officially known as the Audas Estate, some just call the church blocks opposite the Post Office and near the public library.
Different aspects of slavery, apartheid, culture and church will be covered in this tour. An inspiring, hard working community grew organically here, in spite of Apartheid. To quote a Culture Connector from the last tour: ‘It is really precious and it’s what created talented, resourceful people, some who have stayed here, others moved to around the world’.
Our story begins with Barnabas Shaw, a pioneering Wesleyan Methodist missionary. He bought land after the Emancipation of Slavery Act in Britain, 1834. He wanted to provide a place for freed slaves to live. First came the church, then the school which became the Somerset West Methodist Primary School, the oldest school in the Helderberg area.
Our guide, Dr Timothy Visser, has strong family connections to this community and knows many of the people who live here. Timothy was brought up very close by where he still lives. His day job is an emergency physician who locums and does medical outreach. He has been leading social history tours in and around Somerset West for the past decade, recently qualifying as a tourist guide. He leads Culture Connect SA’s popular Paardevlei tour.
This walk includes the manse, Coachman’s Cottage Museum, the ‘slave’ church with its architectural motifs linked to the abolitionists and the slave masters’ church.
What did freedom mean for people previously bonded in slavery? Why were so called coloured residents not forcibly removed through the Group Areas Act, 1950?
We hear about the people who lived here – bakers, coffin makers, shoemakers and dressmakers.
This tour will be fascinating if you are interested in Somerset West and South African history, urban design, local neighbourhoods and architecture.
Saturday 14 March 2026
9h30 start by the entrance to the Coachman’s Cottage: corner of Victoria and Andries Pretorius Streets, Somerset West (map is included in the briefing)
12h15 finish with an optional lunch at a cafe nearby at your own cost, Spoon Bakery and Cafe, 1 Drama Street, Somerset West. The food is exceptionally good (and it is licensed).
R350 early payment pre 12 March, then R450 per person (two free places available if you say why you can’t pay)
To book and for payment info please:
kate@cultureconnectsa.com or WhatsApp +27 (0)72 377 8014
Like Timothy’s Paardvlei tour, you can book to do it privately at a mutually convenient date.
Images all part of the tour except the one including Timothy which is in Paardevlei and the first church which is in Raithby, between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. It is on land that belonged to Timothy’s family but then transferred to the Wesleyan missionaries to establish a community.
