About Granny Mouse House
Granny Mouse House, although renamed in 1998, is one of the oldest of Hogsback houses, originally built from wattle-and-daub as a private holiday home, it was later extended in all directions in an architecturally 'interesting' manner, and became the private residence of a rather feisty old lady, probably not too unlike the present owner.
ERF number 1, now known as Granny Mouse House, was the first piece of ground subdivided off the original Summerton farm and still borders the remnants of it.
Hard-pressed though one might be, in the present tense, to discern that anything productive may once have been conducted on that property, historical accounts assure us that it was so.
The Summerton brothers, both market gardeners from England, settled in Hogsback in the 1820's, and both married local Black women. Many of the nut trees, orchard varieties and berries still growing in abundance on the mountain bear witness to their trade.
Mushroom spores were brought by ship from England and kept alive on wetted bricks. A Clan of Xhosa-speakers still bearing the name continue to own the adjacent land.
A walk or drive around the Bluff, which was the remainder of the Summerton brothers' orchard, now known as Summerton Drive, has much to commend it a as tourist attraction.
It includes the Labyrinth and Tea garden/restaurant at The Edge, Dianna Graham`s award-winning Eco-shrine, a Buddhist meditation and Yoga centre, a circular walk and viewpoint overlooking the Tyume Valley and Indigenous forests. In the month of flowering, the Bluff is suffused with colourful indigenous Watsonias. An assortment of other interesting crafters and some noteworthy private gardens completes the picture.
The 'CBD' is a mere 1.5 kms away.
The house, purchased with the intention of providing a retirement haven for the current owner may well not have lasted until that date, such was the state of disrepair. But fate conspired as it sometimes does, to allow for earlier occupation and restoration.
'Coming, ready or not' was the battle cry of said ex-Capetonian Proprietor. Granny Mouse Guest-house has been converted over time into its present form with distinctly more love than money. No matter. It is what it is. Quaint 'Sophisticated Squonk' might aptly describe it and our Guests all love it. It carries a 4 **** Superior rating from both AA and TGCSA grading Councils.
After undergoing Hotel-schooling, training and employment in some of the best establishments around the Country, several noteworthy local and International accolades have been awarded to the present Proprietor. Some of these are mentioned in articles written on this quaint little business, in Country Life and Getaway magazines in 2004.
The Proprietor of Granny Mouse House applies a particular philosophy to the business:
- Being the Proprietor is not synonymous with being the Boss. The Boss is the Guest who checks in to our establishment. All staff are trained to be on alert when the Boss comes to our gates.
- The Boss is our best form of advertising, most other forms having the distinct capacity to put us out of business. We therefore treat the Boss with our absolute and best attentions.
- Being the Proprietor is also not synonymous with living an easy life. That title is shared with several sub-titles, including but not limited to:
-
Head gardener
We have distinct ambitions in that regard and we have laid out from scratch and continue to develop, Show gardens of a high standard, open to the Public for viewing in 3 seasons of the year. Guests staying with us are exempt from viewing fees.
Begun in 2001, an air of establishment was quickly achieved by bringing in full grown trees and shrubs. A series of paths leads to one after another individual garden rooms. Each has its own subtly blended colour scheme. Some change with the seasons due to successional plantings of seasonal perennials and the strong use of foliage colour, within the limitations of the area.
Planted for botanical as well as visual interest, the basic cottage garden style has been drawn upon to create Form without Formality. - Staff Training Officer
- Head of Project Development and Maintenance
- Secretary, receptionist, accounts dept head, tax advisor and marketing officer
- Head chef
