South African Country Life – September 2019

Historical Stays

1

WesternCape

JohnMontaguGuestHouse

Montagu

Amazingly,backin 1861,Montaguhaditsownbanknotes.Whenit

wasdeclareda healthresortin 1936,wealthypeopleflockedthereto

buyholidayhouses,andin 1941theMontaguMuscadelCo-operative

wasformed.I discoveredallthis,andmore,at thetouristofficein Bath

Street,wheretheyhavea streetmapfora self-guidedhistoricalwalk

oftheprettyweetown.GiventhatMuscadelrunsthroughthetown’s

veinssoto speak,it’sfitting,indeedwarming,to beserveda welcoming

glassofthesweetliquidonarrivalat theJohnMontaguGuestHousein

JoubertStreet.Whilenotmarkedonthehistorical-walkmap,thishouse

builtin theearly1900saspartofa farm,hasallthehallmarksofcottage

nostalgia and good, old, home comfort. Plus it bears the name of the man,

who as colonial secretary for almost a decade from 1843, helped the area

realise its full agricultural potential. Originally a pair of skakelhuisies and

a guest house for about 25 years, it’s seen a few structural changes and

upgrades over time but hasn’t lost its old-world charm. One of the four

rooms is a family unit and another has a Jacuzzi. The cosy kitchen and

dining area where we enjoyed a home-cooked, hearty breakfast, leads

onto a patio with beautiful views of the mountain, plus a pool, lapa bar

and comfy seating. Sit on the bench on the front stoep and while away

the hours simply watching the world go by. And, conveniently, the John

Montagu is a five-minute walk from the town centre and restaurants.

• Nancy Richards
  023 614 1331, johnmontagu.co.za

Here’swhere to revel in our rich yesteryear

September 2019 048 http://www.countrylife.co.za

Country Escapes