The John Weston House

The John Weston house represents a pivotal point in the aviation and transportation history of South Africa.The house is a tangible reminder of the living conditions in the 1900’s and serves as an authentic representation of the history of Brandfort- Free State.The Aeronautical Society of South Africa, which was founded by Weston himself, hosts a bi-annual memorial lecture in his honour at the house.John Weston, a civil engineer, began the construction of his own aeroplane in 1907 at Brandfort, in the Free State. This was the first South African built aeroplane. He lacked an engine with enough power, so he dismantled the aircraft and shipped it to France. It is possible that John Weston based his design on a Voisin.In France he fitted a Gnome rotary engine (50hp) and flew it successfully (in France) in 1910. On 16 June 1911 John Weston made the first flight in Kimberley establishing a South African non-stop flight record of eight-and-a-half minutes in his Weston-Farman biplane.His energy and drive led to the formation of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa in 1911. It was the start of the John Weston Aviation Company of South Africa, which did much to popularise flight in the country by touring the main centres and offering flights to the public. The dates of 6 June 1911 and 16 June 1911 are respectively given in two other sources for this event.John Weston was a founding member of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa. He also established the John Weston Aviation Company to raise funds for the establishment of a flying school with a permanent aerodrome.The company's wealthy sponsors funded flying demonstrations in South Africa and Mozambique.. In June, 1911, Weston flew the Weston-Farman for eight and a half minutes at Kimberley.It was a South African record for the duration of a flight. Demonstrations of the company's five aircraft (one Weston-Farman, three Bristols and one Farman) followed at Johannesburg, Lorenzo Marques, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Kenilworth, East London, King Williams Town, and Queenstown.John Weston is regarded as the grandfather of aviation in South Africa. He later took part in the South West Africa Campaign and World War I, was awarded the honorary title of Rear Admiral and travelled through Europe and South Africa in a home-made caravan that he had named Suid Afrika.
The John Weston house, at 26 Loop Street, Brandfort is an incredibly significant site. Not only is it one of the town's oldest houses but it was where the first aeroplane in South Africa was assembled. The first Aeroplane to be completed in South Africa was assembled on this site by Rear Admiral John Weston and was used by him for demonstration flights in 1911.In the 1960’s a plaque was unveiled on this site to commemorate the work of john Weston in aviation and to honour the fact that the first aeroplane in South Africa was assembled in this site and used as demonstrations around South Africa.