Ivor Markman
When artist Frans Mulder decided it was time to get out of jail and make a break for it, careful planning was necessary for alternative accommodation.
He found Sir Andries Stockenstrom's run-down old home on the nearby farm called Maasstrom.
But before you get the wrong idea, it must be explained that Mulder wasn't serving time for breaking the law.
He'd bought the old Bedford jail and converted it into a rather unusual residence-cum-studio, but the time came to move along and sell the jail.
When Mulder moved from Smithfield in the Free State to Bedford two-and-a-half years ago, he brought his horses with him and leased a piece of land on Maasstrom from owner George van der Watt.
A short distance away, in a poor state, was Stockenstrom's original farmhouse, described by the l9th century editor of the Grahamstown Journal and political adversary, Robert Godlonton, as the "gem of the desert".
Mulder had often admired the small house located about 500 metres outside Bedford, and had often visualised fixing it up.
"It was in a shocking state. The basic structure was there but there were no windows or doors.
"Luckily the plank floors and the ceilings remained," he said
"The roof was okay”. (Van der Watt) had maintained the roof because he realised (the house) would have been ruined (if it was exposed to the elements).
"It was a huge project to renovate.
“When I sold the jail I decided I would like to stay on the smallholding near my horses and obtain the actual rights to the house.
"I have a 20-year lease on the house because a major amount of money had to be spent to renovate the place. “The only way I could recoup my costs was to have a long lease."
The sale is equally as interesting as the story of the farm.
Godlonton was bitterly opposed to Stockenstrom's ideas and it's believed he was responsible for writing anonymous letters to his own newspaper stirring up hatred for Stockenstrom.
Stockenstrom was a very liberal man and was one of five people who, in 1850, were appointed to fill vacancies in the Legislative Council after an unofficial "election".
Immediately after new provisions for a constitution were agreed upon, he and three other "popular members" resigned.
With John Fairburn he formed a deputation and travelled to England in March 1851 to make representations for the immediate granting of a representative government in the Colony.
However, when Stockenstrom reached England, he was unable to achieve his objective.
On returning to Cape Town in December, 1851, the members of the deputation were jeered by Godlonton and his supporters.
But while the jeers were predictable, news that Stockenstrom's home at Maasstrom, his books and his personal treasures, all lay in ashes, came as a tremendous shock.
Frans Mulder / Sir Andries Stockenstrom
WILD THING: Wildlife artist Frans Mulder relaxes in front of one of his wild dog paintings at Sir Andries Stockenstrom's old home on the farm Maasstrom, Bedford.
(cont . . .) A young Scottish farmer, William Ainslie, the first eyewitness at the disaster scene, wrote to his father on August 18, 1851.
"Maasstrom is in ashes, dwelling house, wagon house and stables. The mill still stands."
Later, he wrote: "Everything is destroyed at Maasstrom, a fine pianoforte amongst other things."
Stockenstrom rushed to his farm when he heard the news and although he found all the neighbouring houses untouched by the war, the damages to his property was so bad he settled his family in Cape Town.
Several acres of a plantation belonging to his English neighbours were also burnt because they had volunteered to look after Maasstrom whilst Stockenstrom was in England.
At first he accepted the loss as the inevitable consequence of Xhosa action during the Eighth Frontier War.
SIR ANDRIES STOCKENSTROM: Mulder lives in the renovated Lieutenant Governor's farmhouse.
ROBERT GODLONTON
Later, when a few Xhosa men appeared on the farm, he scolded them for the useless destruction, but gradually evidence came to light that revealed they were innocent.
Sandile, the Xhosa chief, had issued strict orders that anyone who damaged Stockenstrom's house would be put to death.
Eventually it was established that Stockenstrom's political opponents had burnt the house down.
"What have I got by these wars? My property in ruins, part of my family living in wrecked sheds, my home burnt down, not by the black man but by the loyal white man," said Stockenstrom.
In order to finance rebuilding of the house, Stockenstrom sold off
part of his farm as plots and thus founded the town of Bedford, naming it after his friend, the Duke of Bedford.
THE OLD MILL AT MAASSTROM:
"Part of this house was the original house of Sir Andries Stockenstrom," said Mulder.
"It's got spring water from the mountain. I have enough water for the garden."
Mulder was unsure how long Stockenstrom actually lived in the house as he also lived for a while in Graaff-Reinet.
"I just feel I'm privileged to be here. Bedford is such a dynamic little town and there is a wonderful, relaxed, nice quality of lifestyle. Living here you've got space, freedom and fresh air," he said.
As Mulder spoke about his wildlife paintings his eyes glowed with enthusiasm.
"I love the mysterious sort of character of the wild dog. Everybody paints leopards or lion.
"Nobody sees the character of wild dogs - (nobody) watches them in the pack, the whole family structure, the markings," he said.
"They're an unknown factor. Knowledge of them is growing as a lot of emphasis has been put on wild dogs.
“I don't know the exact facts (when) the last one was shot, but I think it was in the 1860s, in a drift near Shamwari."
Even though Mulder loves painting eland, kudu are his favourite.
"I love kudu. Eland are not indigenous to this area. Kudu are and, in fact, come into my garden. They actually go into town too, (where) they eat flowers in the gardens," he said.
SOURCE: Sir Andries Stockenstrom by J L Dracopoli.
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WRONGLY ACCUSED: Sandile, the Xhosa chief, issued strict orders - on pain of death - forbidding anyone from damaging Stockenstrom's house.
HISTORIC HOMESTEAD: Frans Mulder holds one of his wildlife paintings in front of Sir Andries Stockenstrom's original Bedford home on the farm Maasstrom.