About Us
Land in the area was being granted to British settlers by Queen Victoria and in 1846 the land that eventually comprised of the farms Stocklands, Oatlands and Woodlands was surveyed and the title deeds given to the Reverend Archbell, a Weslyan missionary who had come with his wife and children to S.A. in 1819. (A copy of the original title deed to Stocklands is in the Howick Museum.)
We do not think that Reverend Archbell lived consistently at Stocklands, but his sons lived and farmed here. One son and the father-in-law of another are buried on the farm. Another son was married from Stocklands and many of the Archbell descendants lie in the local graveyard.
In 1850 36 plots were surveyed and sub-divided from the farm and sold to form the new village of Howick.
Howick was named after the Northumberland home of Earl Grey, Secretary for the Colonies and inventor of Earl Grey tea - which we serve at Stocklands to this day!
The small shale house that was built prior to 1843 is where we have our sitting room, main bedroom and personal office today. With yellowwood ceilings and doors, and walls over 50cm thick it was built to stand the test of time. Some years later a larger granite building was added at right angles to the original house – still with the same thick walls and Yellowwood beams.
Standing in the grounds of Stocklands is an enormous Belhambra tree – indigenous to South America. These trees are found throughout South Africa on old farms and Trading Stations. It is believed that the seed came out with the new settlers who would have been warned of the need for shade in this fiercely hot land. A few years ago one of the trees on Stocklands collapsed in a storm and we were able to count 145 rings, which makes it contemporary with the house. What stories it could tell!
Also on the grounds of the farm is a granite-built magazine, which must have housed ammunition for both the Zulu and Boer wars. The Archbell sons were members of the Karkloof Carbineers.
We are continuing to trace the history of this wonderful old house and to find out more about the previous owners. One of the earliest references to Stocklands is as “a good place to stay” on the journey north. We hope that guests will recognise and enjoy the warmth and welcoming ambience of Stocklands that comes from generations of hosts who enjoyed welcoming strangers to the farm and having them depart as friends, just as we do today.
Here is the entire Team at Stocklands Farm
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Eve |
Roland |
Goodness |
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Lindiwe |
Maureen |
Regina |
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Thando |
Florence |
Alice |
Howick was named after the Northumberland home of Earl Grey, Secretary for the Colonies and inventor of Earl Grey tea - which we serve at Stocklands to this day!
