Bedford or Nyarha is a town in the centre of the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape ( ; ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, and its largest city is Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Due to its climate and nineteenth-century towns, it is a common location for tourists. It is also kno ...

province of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. It was established in the mid-19th century when Sir Andries Stockenstroom sold portions of land from his farm Maastroom to raise funds for the restoration of his library, which had been burnt by British soldiers mistrustful of his attempts to broker peace in one of the

Cape Frontier Wars The Xhosa Wars (also known as the Cape Frontier Wars or the Kaffir Wars) were a series of nine wars (from 1779 to 1879) between the Xhosa people, Xhosa Kingdom and the British Empire as well as Trekboers from the Dutch colonial empire in what ...

. The farm is still there and open for visitors. It is located on the southern edge of the

Winterberg Winterberg (; Westphalian: ''Winnenmerg'') is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, central Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland. Geography Winterberg is located in the middle ...

mountain range, in the ''Smaldeel'' (a narrow strip of

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecology), dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes such as clover, and other Herbaceo ...

running laterally from

Fort Beaufort Fort Beaufort ( Xhosa: iBhofolo), officially renamed KwaMaqoma in March 2023, is a town in the Amatole District of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and had a population of 25,668 in 2011. The town was established in 1837 and became a mun ...

Somerset East Somerset East () (renamed KwaNojoli in 2023) is a town in the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was founded by Lord Charles Somerset in 1825. The Blue Crane Route follows the national road R63 (South Afri ...

, renowned for its sweet grass). The town suffered a major decline in fortunes in the latter half of the 20th century before reviving itself around the turn of the millennium. It is regarded today as an artist's haven and retirement village. Bedford has the following locations or human settlements; Town, New Brighton, Coloured Valley, Nonzwakazi, Bhongweni, Ndlovini, Khayelitsha, Polar Park, New Rest and Goodwin Park The lack of industry in the town, while a boon to those hoping to escape the rat race, means that the town has a large unemployment rate. The woes of the poor are exacerbated by a high

HIV-AIDS The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a preventable disease. It can ...

infection rate. Bedford is home to two high schools namely; Templeton High School, situated in the suburban part of the town and Lonwabo Senior Secondary School, situated in Circular Drive in the Polar Park Location. Other than that there is a Model C school, Bedford Country School situated just behind the Public Library in town . Nonyameko Junior Primary School is situated in the Nonzwakazi Location just as is Ntlama Higher Primary School. Bedford Primary School is situated in the Coloured Location of Bedford. The Bedford Provincial Hospital is situated in Maitland Street, three blocks northwest of the town's centre. Other healthcare centres include the Town Clinic in the suburban part of the town and Mzamohle Clinic in the location part of the town. Most tourists visit Bedford to experience true South African farm living. It is also known for the garden festival where people who live in the town and surrounding farms get to show case their gardens and other creative art work.

References

External links

http://www.bedford.co.za/
- The Bedford Homepage. {{Authority control Populated places in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality Populated places established in 1854 Tourist attractions in the Eastern Cape 1854 establishments in the British Empire