The Bergtheil Museum, based in the leafy suburb of Westville is mostly focused on the first German settlers that Jonas Bergtheil brought to Natal. The museum is housed within Westville’s oldest building, featuring beautiful high stone walls and hand-hewn floorboards. A picturesque park surrounds the historical building, and gives it an atmosphere of serenity.
Jonas Bergheil was the director of the Natal Cotton Company; a powerful part of history amongst those still living in KwaZulu-Natal. Take a fascinating tour around the building and learn about this part of South Africa’s history.
The Bergtheil Museum was named after Jonas Bergtheil and is housed in the oldest building in Westville, dating back to the 1840’s. The museum focuses on the 1848 German settlers that Jonas Bergtheil brought to Natal as Director of the Natal Cotton Company and their contribution to the settlement of Westville, Cleremont and New Germany.
The Bergtheil Museum also has a wonderful collection of photographs, documents and artefacts. The building has undergone alterations over the years but the original cottage still features massive stonewalls and hand-hewn yellowwood floors. The building was declared a National Monument in 1983.
16 Queens Road, Westville
Tel: 031 203 7107
http://www.durban-history.co.za/
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