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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: 2Harriet on Saturday 28 January 12 17:08 GMT (UK)
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Hi rootschatters,
My ggranduncle Robert Irving Johnston retired from Natal police pre 1933 to set up as hotelier with his wife Daisy in the Kloof Hotel. Does anyone have any photos of it or can tell me anything about it please. I am not sure when he retired but it was between 1912 and when he died in 1933. I have an undated newspaper clipping which has a write up about his retiral and mentions the Kloof hotel.
Thanks
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Hi there,
Is it definitely in Pietermaritzburg or is it in Kloof, near Durban?
Ruth
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Hi Ruth,
It was definitely Pietermaritzburg -Thanks
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Hi found this link to Pietermaritzburg days 1920-1930's.
http://natalia.org.za/Files/17/Natalia%20v17%20article%20p25-48%20C.pdf
No mention of a Kloof hotel, I suspect the hotel was in Kloof Natal and not in Pietermaritzburg.If someone has access to a Braby's directory for those years you may be able to find the details.I was in PMB over Xmas at NAAIRS and found the directories lying on top of a cupboard and managed to find details of my grandfathers flour mill in Vryheid circa 1913-24.
Good luck derek
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Hi - I've lived in Pietermaritzburg all my life & have never known a Kloof hotel. It is quite possible that the hotel is actually in Kloof but back then, it was quite a rural area & may have been the Pietermaritzburg magisterial area. Hope this helps, - Regards Ellen
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Ellen and Derek,
Just had an idea.... Was puzzling about a hotel in PMB and thought about Winterskloof - was there possibly a hotel there? I then thought of the Hilton which was established in 1936... Maybe avenues to persue. St Annes was well established by then. Need to think of who to contact....
Ruth
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Right here is a link to the history of Hilton and it's hotel.
www.hiltonvillage.co.za/history
Once you open the link you will see you can purchase 2 books for R50 each.One is the history of Hilton the other the history of Winterskloof.You are even be able to ask the author if they know anything about your relative by email.Good luck Derek.
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Thanks for that link - very interesting! I am hoping to get to the Archives sometime this week & I'll be sure to check out the Braby's.
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Ellen why not give Chris Lake a ring - he wrote the books and I think he still lives in Hilton. We used to be involved in the same running club about 30 years ago!!! I will also ask my uncle - my grandfathers family were all in PMB - I only went to college and taught there for a while.
It is a puzzle that is irritating as I just cannot find anything about the hotel.
Ruth
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Hi all - I was at the Archives this morning. I checked the Braby's 1929 - 1932 for a Kloof hotel in Pietermaritzburg - Definitely nothing!
I have to just say that I was very pleasantly surprised by the assistance offered there - A young Black male helped us look up names on the computer, showed us which File number references were needed & then promised to phone us when the files arrived from their storehouse. A tall Black lady helped me (I'm rather short!), to retrieve the Braby's/Almanacs from the top of the cupboards. It really is a fascinating place - I could have stayed there all day! 2Harriet, sorry I couldn't solve your riddle.
Regards, Ellen
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Thankyou everyone for your efforts - I will go back to drawing board.!!
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Harriet -
'Kloof Hotel' is (was ??) definately in Kloof . In the period 1960-75 it was owned and run by Geoff (Jeff) Slingsby - Smith . I am sure that both he and his wife (Di ??) have passed on . I was at school with their son David Slingsby - Smith . David emmigrated to Australia where he worked for a wine farm until his untimely death last year . As far as I know his wife and children are in Australia . Am sure if you google his name under Australian wines you will find some information on him .
Hope this helps .
Kevin
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Not sure if this is of any help but the hotel in Kloof was called the 'Fields Hotel' (but also known as the Kloof Hotel). It was situated at the top of Fields Hill and was a lovely old building. It was changed into a shopping centre some years ago - called the 'Fields Shopping Centre'...
I am not aware of a Kloof Hotel in Pietermaritzburg...
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Well thanks all- I can now confirm that the Kloof Hotel was near Durban- confirmed by newfound cousin in SA. Congratulations to all who said it was not in Pietermaritburg. :) :D
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Thanks so much for the reply - It has really been a puzzle to me as I know Pietermaritzburg pretty well and I live close to Kloof so it had me stumped. I walked into the Fields shopping centre on Friday and wondered if it was the Hotel you were referring to. Glad to that you found a cousin.
Ruth
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Hi Kevin, I hope this message finds you well. I found your post about Kloof Hotel and your reference to Geoffrey (Jeff) Slingsby-Smith. Geoffrey was my grandfather, David was my father. as your post says dad pasted away a few years back. i would love to know as much information about Geoffrey and the Kloof Hotel as possible. unfortunately i don't even know my grandfathers date of death. i have been trying to track down his death certificate for years because i want to obtain his WW2 RAF records. i look forward to hearing from you.
kind regards Chris Slingsby-Smith
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Hello Chris, After asking a few residents in the area I have established that Jeff owned/ran the Moorlands Private Hotel in Kloof Kzn. He was known as 'Slingers' and if he liked someone he referred to him as 'an awfully good chap'. I don't know a great deal more yet but a local historian is also looking for details for me. Now I know it was the Moorlands Hotel I may find out more. Definitely was not Field's hotel as he was known to enjoy a few glasses of whatever in that establishment on occasion, and it would appear that any hotel in the area was called Kloof Hotel ! No details yet on Robert Johnston and which hotel he had an interest in but will pass on any information.
As luck would have it our local library has been closed this week for stock taking but will ask there next week for any historical info. You never know, there maybe something.
Also, look at 'Forces War Records.co.uk' for Jeff's war records. After posting a query a couple of years ago they are still sending me advisories regarding a possible ancestor. Could be worth a try.
Hope this helps.
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Hello Chris,
Welcome to RootsChat :)
I have just sent Kevin a message to let him know of your reply, there looks to be a problem with his email at the moment. I hope to see him back very soon.
Regards
Sarah
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Chris , hi -
Sorry for no reply to your post , but have moved companies and also not very active on Rootschat .
I would be happy to respond to any of your queries relating to 'Slinger' (gramps and your dad) .
Regards
Kevin Baxter
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Hi Kevin,
I have just updated your RootsChat email notification address, whenever people post updates to your posts you will now be notified now that we have a working email for you.
Regards
Sarah :)
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Many thanks Sarah
Kevin
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Chris -
Hope all well down under (Wallabys smiling again ???)
Please let me know how to contact you so that I can send you the information I have on your gramps and dad . I also have some research agents names who I contacted when doing my research --- very difficult doing it from a distance and by email .
Kevin Baxter