It was the home of Sir Frederick Moor,
the last Natal Colony Prime Minister and at present part of the Greater Summerhill Estate, the formal property from Colonel Richards who was the
right hand of Sir Frederick and senator in the first Union of South
Africa government. Both families have left their footprints behind for
the further development of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Raymond
Ellis established a horse breeding stable about 70 years ago. It went so
well for Raymond as he won each big price in the country. He could
easily be compared with the English Lord Derby, the Agas Khan, Sheikhs Maktoum,
the French Boussac, Italian Tesio or the American Phippses and Calumets.
On November 22, 1899, when
this tranquil and beautiful landscape was suffering the ravages of the
Anglo-Boer War, generals Piet Joubert (of Majuba fame) and Louis Botha,
fresh from the skirmish at Willow Grange, camped on the koppie at the
foot of Hartford. Here, the big decisions of the Anglo-Boer War were
taken, the Battle of Colenso, the Battle of Vaalkrantz and the mother of
all battles, the Battle of Spioenkop.
The drama
was complete when the Boers confiscated Sir
Frederick's Moor favourite horse. Something like this can today be
compared with taking away a Land Rover. His brother, John, a prototype
British colonial went fetching the horse back at the other side of the
estate. The Boer commander was in his favour and gave the horse back.
Right
before the important political decisions leading to the United South
Africa, Louis Botha came along and established with the Moor's what
would become the largest dairy company on the African continent: National Combined Dairies.
This historical fact is remembered in the Hartford Chapel.
The Summerhill
Estate was in 1922 hosting the British Royal Family, it was here on the
veranda that the 'Treaty of Vereeniging'
was signed.
.
The Summerhill Stallion Barn is famous for the best horses in the
southern hemisphere. Most horses are property from the Maktoums family
based in Dubai. This family is world famous for owning the best breeds
in the world. Today, most of the employees are Zulu.
Hartford is famous for
its stallions, trout fishing and within short distance of the Midland's
Meander, Weenen, the Drakensberg and the Boschhoek Golf Estate.
Hartford House
is awarded several times and belongs to the top accommodations in the
country, together with names such as The Mount
Nelson, The Marine, Cellars-Hohenhort, The Cape Grace, Mala Mala and Singita.
The elegance from the
historic Hartford
House restaurant is internationally renown. Besides a 5-star wine menu,
we are awarded as one of the best small top restaurants in KwaZulu-Natal
and one of the top 10 'firesidelunch' locations.
Accommodation
13 stylish
luxury suites, each with under floor heating, heated towel racks,
Jacuzzi spa baths and fireplaces, telephone, satellite television and a
minibar.
VERANDA DOUBLE SUITES - Suites
5 & 8
Large luxury bedroom with king size bed, lounge and a very
large open plan mosaic bathroom.
Corner bath and shower + under floor heating. One room overlooks the rose
garden.
VERANDA TWIN SUITES - Suites 6
& 7
Spacious luxury bedroom with 2 three-quarter beds in
combination with a spacious open plan mosaic bedroom with under floor
heating.
GARDEN SUITES - Suites 9 & 10
These suites are
situated in the garden. Decorated with pure Indian silk. Large superior
bedroom with king size bed. Lounge with fireplace and under floor heating. En-suite bathroom
with Jacuzzi spa bath and separate toilet. Very stylish bedroom.
POOL SUITES - Suites 11 & 12
Hidden in
the garden and close to the swimming pool, sauna and health spa. Overlooking
the trout pond. Spacious superior bedroom with king size bed, Moroccan
carpets and Indian silk. Lounge with fireplace and en-suite bathroom with
Jacuzzi spa bath and stone floors with mosaic walls. This room is often
chosen for special occasions.
