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In 1975 the Minister of National Education, Senator van der Spuy,
announced that Mrs Lidderdale's bequest together with those of other
benefactors would be permanently exhibited at Bertram House. Shortly
afterwards, the house was opened to the public as a museum. Extensive
restoration of the building took place during 1983 and it was formally
reopened as a Georgian town house in May 1984.
Sadly, Mrs Lidderdale did not live to see the successful completion
of this project. Active to the last, she died as a result of a fall
whilst working on a catalogue of her collection in the house during
her ninety-fifth year. Not only does her bequest form the nucleus
of the collection in this museum, but the Lidderdale Trust Fund
makes provision for the purchase of pieces, to augment the original
holdings.
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