LOCATION

Camps Bay Retreat Camps Bay Retreat is located in the wind-free Glen area, borders the mountain reserve and is within walking distance from Camps Bay and Clifton Beach.

FACILITIES

• Swimming Pool
• Sauna
• Spa bath
• Tennis Court
• Mountain Bikes
• Fitness Gym
• Meditation Pond
• Restaurant

History

Earl’s Dyke Manor was bought by Thomas Earl Skaife from the Cape Marine Suburbs in 1911. He sold the plot in 1920 to Friedrich Wilhelm Knacke who built on it a house ‘to be envied’ and a beautiful garden on a spur of the mountains that juts out between two ravines, with streams and a waterfall. The house was demolished in 1929 when the present home, designed by William Grant was built.

Trudi Knacke (Friedrich Wilhelm Knacke’s daughter) inherited Earl’s Dyke in 1945. She recalls many fond childhood memories of the old natural pool she built (now known as the meditation pool) and attractive seventies style brick pool house on the terrace (now our Skin & Body Centre) which she built in 1985.

In 2002 Maree Brink backed by business associates and family, took over custodianship of Earl’s Dyke from Trudi Knacke.

In 2003, the bordering property, 3 Chilworth was acquired, renovated and renamed Deck House and incorporated in to the Estate. In contrast with the formal Earls Dyke Manor the Deck House has been developed along clean modern lines with plenty of sunlight and large wooden decks. The Deck House has an exclusive pool, and all the rooms have extensive private gardens.

From then on, both properties were integrated with one another by means of gardens, a nursery and the re-introduction of indigenous forest.

A swing bridge was constructed in 2004  and links Earls Dyke Manor and the Deck House.