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Shepstone Gardens: a little history...
Welcome to the story of Shepstone Gardens - a tale of how a family home blossomed into a magnificent venue where special occasions are nurtured into unforgettable moments to be cherished forever.
Situated in Hope Road, the heart of Mountain View, Shepstone Gardens is a part of a unique time in the heritage of Johannesburg. The main house is one of the original Witwatersrand Ridge houses commissioned by the Modderfontein Dynamite Company after the Anglo Boer War, at the turn of the 20th Century. The original house was built from the local quartz [estimated at 350 million years old] by Afrikaans prisoners captured during the Anglo Boer War. Mahatma Ghandi, the Indian civil rights advocate, was himself involved in a dispute between the dynamite company and the prisoners, as he was a close friend of the local architect.
Shepstone Gardens, also informally known as the Secret Garden, is a proud reminder of Johannesburg’s historical past as well as a testament to the aesthetic sensibilities of the artisans, gardeners and stone craftsmen who have dedicated their skills to the construction of this landmark.
The property has been privately owned by the Rayner family for almost 35 years now. Bought with the intention of restoring it to its former colonial beauty, all additions have been made in keeping with the style of the original Herbert Baker architecture. It is now an established venue with a sterling reputation that competes with its own historical glory.
Being a privately owned venue, Shepstone Gardens gives all its guests a warm welcome and service that is personalised and taken seriously. Here, the priority is to maintain quality relationships and build new ones based on trust. When you visit Shepstone Gardens, you really do feel a part of the family, and can have confidence that you will be taken care of in every aspect.
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