COMPLETED: Kloof Hotel, Pietermaritzburg any photos anyone?

[2Harriet]

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

[rutti tutti]

Hi there,
Is it definitely in Pietermaritzburg or is it in Kloof, near Durban?
Ruth

[2Harriet]

Hi Ruth,
It was definitely Pietermaritzburg -Thanks

[pampoen]

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

[EllenSmale]

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

[rutti tutti]

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

[pampoen]

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.

[EllenSmale]

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.

[rutti tutti]

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