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History: Granted in 1691 to Pierre Lombard. This impressive H-shaped gabled house was built by Dawid de Villiers in 1800. Bought by Rhodes Fruit Farms in 1929, and transferred to the government in 1936 as a fruit research centre.
This farm was granted in 1699 to Pierre Lombard. a Huguenot. It was his second grant, and lay alongside his first, Langerust. It was referred to in the early deeds as 'two farms', viz Watergat, and Zondernaam. In 1762 they were transferred to Jan de Villiers, owner of Boschendal, and in 1777 to one of his many sons, David. In the last transfer the adjective 'zondernaam' (nameless) is first used as a name the farm. In 1800 David de Villiers built the present house; his initials and those of his wife, Johanna de Villiers, appear on the gable.
In 1806 De Villiers died, and the property was transferred to Daniel Hermanus Joubert, a relative on his mother's side. In 1837 the 2 farms were divided. in such a way that a new name was needed
for the part on which the house stood. and Bien Donne was chosen. It may have been known by name - though not on paper - since 1699,)
Visual Description: The house is H-shaped, and has been both restored and much altered inside. The original front, with its straight-sided but elaborately decorated gable dated 1800 and its shuttered casements, is intact, but the back, on the roadside and now the entrance, was changed in the 1830's, probably at the time of the first rethatching by D. H. Joubert. The back gable seems to have lost its outer pilasters. The interior of the house has been rearranged - though most original woodwork is still there and there are lean-to additions in the side-courts. The 4 end-gables are unusually ornate, and have 2 scrolls and a shell at their top, and resting on pilasters, at their sides. There are steps to the left at one wing-end, the space below which has been used for birds' nests etc. A stoep surround sthe house, though not past the open side of courts. There are no old outbuildings of importance.
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Construction Date: 1800
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