Baynesfield, Natal Midlands
Baynesfield is a tiny little village roughly 22 minutes' drive south west of Pietermaritzburg. Pretty to drive through, it is the home of Baynesfield Estate, a museum, and a little railway station, but little more.
Named after Joseph Baynes, who arrived in South Africa with his father as a settler in 1842, the role of the village is principally as support for Baynesfield Estate – a series of farms bought by the keen agriculturalist.
Baynes died in 1925 without heirs and left his over 9 000 hectare estate in trust for South Africans. Today it remains a working farm with pigs, timber, maize, avocados, cattle and soya as the principle crops. The estate still has the largest breeding piggery in the province – a testament to Baynes' having initiated the bacon industry in the country.
A beautiful Victorian style building, Baynes House was built in 1882 by Joseph for his second wife, Sarah. Filled with a lot of the original Baynes' furniture, the house is open to the public (by arrangement, so phone ahead). It lies in a beautiful garden filled with trees.
The house of his first wife, Maria, also remains standing - a far simpler affair with stables at one end and a bull ring at the other. In it visitors can see a rather large collection of antique wood crafting tools, now held in custody by a group of woodcrafters, amongst whom there is a resident blacksmith, who have set up their workshops here. They use the tools as part of their work.
The estate has regular visits from local schools, and has a vegetable garden behind the house that supplies the Salvation Army Joseph Baynes children's Home with produce. The heritage centre does museum tours, tea or lunch tours for groups.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
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Bancroft B&B
Located in the forested, evergreen hills of Hilton, above Pietermaritzburg, is Bancroft B&B. We offer three stylish and extremely comfortable, we...
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Thatchings Guest House
Thatchings Guest House offers accommodation in a country-style guest house, ideally located just 10km from Nottingham Road, in the Midlands. It i...
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Sunflower Cottage
Sunflower Cottage is located on Springvale Farm in Rosetta and provides accommodation in a farm setting. There are horses and a piggy along with ...
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The Green Lantern
Located on a leafy property in the Natal Midlands town of Howick, The Green Lantern offers secure self catering accommodation. Shops, pubs and re...
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AfriCamps at Gowan Valley
AfriCamps at Gowan Valley offers accommodation in boutique tents in the area of Balgowan on the Gowan Valley Guest Farm. An enchanting farm with ...
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Bourne View
Bourne View is a charming holiday house offering accommodation in the heart of the Midlands Meander, in Nottingham Road. Perfect for a small fami...
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Sierra Farm
Sierra Farm is located on 935 hectares of farmlands in the Natal Midlands. It is a popular getaway spot for families and friends. The resort boas...
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Caversham Woods Cottage 2B
Caversham Woods Cottage 2B offers self-catering accommodation with beautiful views on a farm in the heart of the Midlands, making it a great plac...
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Proudfoot Holiday Farm
Proudfoot Holiday Farm offers self-catering and pet friendly accommodation 35kms from Mooi River. Whether you are looking for an intimate getaway...
Things to do in the area
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Baynesfield Estate Museum
The Baynesfield Estate Museum is made up of a few different sites, giving you a look at the life of Yorkshire born Joseph Bayne who was a Byrne S...
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Umlaas Cycad Centre
If you appreciate Fauna and flora or simply love cycads then get down to the Umlaas Cycad Centre in KwaZulu Natal. Here you can find a vast varie...
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Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio
Africa's Iconic Luxury Brand ~ Drawing Inspiration from African Art and Nature to Create Unique Ceramics, Luxury Décor, and Fashion.The vibrant c...
Noteworthy attractions
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Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve
The source of the uMngeni River lies in the uMngeni Vlei area, an ancient wetland bounded by hills. From here it meanders eastward through undula...
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Midmar Dam Nature Reserve
The large stretch of fresh water from the uMngeni, coupled with 1000 hectares of game park that contains red hartebeest, blesbok, reedbuck, black...
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Bosch Hoek Golf Club
Bosch Hoek Golf Course in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands must qualify as one of the most picturesque layouts in the country. The estate is convenient...
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Gowrie Farm Golf Course
Gowrie Farm Golf Course, one of KwaZulu Natal's finest golf courses, was built in the traditional way with push up greens and rugged bunkers. The...
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Maritzburg Golf Club
The Maritzburg Golf Club in Pietermaritzburg is one of the oldest golf clubs in South Africa, dating back to 1886. It has lush, smooth cynodon gr...
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Sakabula Golf Club
Sakabula Golf Club is a unique combination of agricultural smallholdings around a delightful 18-hole, par 73, golf course in a scenic rural envir...
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Victoria Country Club
Less than five minutes from the CBD of Pietermaritzburg, the Victoria Country Club is superbly located in the scenic parklands adjoining the Quee...
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Battlefields Route
The KwaZulu Natal hinterland has witnessed some of the most brutal and significant battles to be fought in South Africa. These historical sites f...
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Midlands Meander
The enchantment of the Midlands has long inspired many a visitor and resident to creativity and as a result, local artists, potters and weavers c...
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