FOXWOOD HOUSE – haven in Houghton · oxwood House, an idyllic rural haven located in the heart of...
2
40 | diversions WINTER 2018 F oxwood House, an idyllic rural haven located in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa's financial and business capital, has all the allure of a country estate. With its large gardens, lush foliage, ancient trees and mysterious old garden pathways, swans and ducks on a pond under the trees, old manor house furnished with family heirlooms, interiors with wooden paneling, old staircase and stone walls it’s hard to believe that one is actually in a city, and within walking distance of a bustling shopping mall with cinemas, bistros, supermarkets, a pharmacy and a hairdresser and a golf course, and close to the major business and shopping districts of the Johannesburg city centre Rosebank and Sandton. Set on two and a half acres in Houghton in an old established suburb with tree-lined streets, the elegant boutique hotel - built in 1924 and designed by Frank Fleming, a partner of Sir Herbert Baker - a retreat of tranquillity and old- world charm is steeped in history and remains untouched by the passage of time. TRAVEL & EVENTS FOXWOOD HOUSE – haven in Houghton Foxwood House:Div 2018/06/01 5:51 AM Page 1
Transcript of FOXWOOD HOUSE – haven in Houghton · oxwood House, an idyllic rural haven located in the heart of...
40 | diversions WINTER 2018
Foxwood House, an idyllic rural haven located in the heart ofJohannesburg, South Africa's financial and business capital, has all theallure of a country estate.
With its large gardens, lush foliage, ancient trees and mysterious old gardenpathways, swans and ducks on a pond under the trees, old manor housefurnished with family heirlooms, interiors with wooden paneling, old staircaseand stone walls it’s hard to believe that one is actually in a city, and withinwalking distance of a bustling shopping mall with cinemas, bistros,supermarkets, a pharmacy and a hairdresser and a golf course, and close tothe major business and shopping districts of the Johannesburg city centreRosebank and Sandton.
Set on two and a half acres in Houghton in an old established suburb withtree-lined streets, the elegant boutique hotel - built in 1924 and designed byFrank Fleming, a partner of Sir Herbert Baker - a retreat of tranquillity and old-world charm is steeped in history and remains untouched by the passage of time.
TRAVEL & EVENTS
FOXWOOD HOUSE– haven in Houghton
Foxwood House:Div 2018/06/01 5:51 AM Page 1
41 | diversions WINTER 2018
It is owned by Pieter de Vos, a TV producer anddirector of many award-winning TV documentariesand Jan Groenewald, a playwright, actor and TVdirector and producer. Both share a passionateinterest in the arts and history.
“History is my passion” says Pieter, “…FoxwoodHouse celebrates the present as much as the past –it can’t actually be described…it has been created forthe future, moulded from the past, the trees are morethan one hundred years old, but the gardens, and theold manor house tell only part of the story. Theamazing charm of the present is that we can take fromthe past what we wish and create our own future…and this is what I’ve done at Foxwood House with mypartner Jan, who is a great-nephew of President PaulKruger, while my family's links to South Africa reachback to the 17th century.”
Foxwood comprises luxury accommodation, aconference centre, (for functions of up to 60 people),a modern state of the art editing suite, privatedining-rooms in the Foxwood restaurant, an intimatetheatre -originally the stables of the old house and aquiet secluded library. Its luxurious, comfortable andwell-appointed suites and garden cottages are fully
equipped with air conditioning, wifi internet access,fridge, TV (DSTV), some with study, dressing roomand fireplace.
All the creatively themed suites carry names that speakof Foxwood’s history - from the owner, Mr Bert Oates, anAustralian there are the Oates Suites - Pearl (his wife)and children John, Mary and Merilyn; the Stables Suites;The Coach House; the Onze Rust Suites (Emmie, Gladys,Colin) and ‘Jessie’s’ Cottage.
Outdoors is a large swimming pool and a sun terracewhere guests can relax in the dappled shade of sturdyoaks and … there are also swans, ducks, peacocksand Simon, a loving German Shepherd.
Dining at Foxwood House is on par with the bestrestaurants in the area - celebrate good food -al fresco, hearty homemade meals and Sundaylunches prepared by two genial chefs. And if you’re upfor a game of golf, the Houghton golf course is a merestone’s throw away.
And, why the name Foxwood? “My surname is DeVos”, explains Pieter, “hence the first syllable “fox”,while the 'wood' is ‘wald’ from Groenewald”.
TRAVEL & EVENTS
Foxwood House, 5th Street, Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South AfricaTel: +27 11 486 0935 / Email: [email protected] our website www.foxwood.co.za or better yet visit us!GPS co-ordinates: 26 09 44 28 S 28’02 10,19 E
ABOUT FOXWOODFoxwood House is an elegant boutique hotel on two and a half acres of lush gardens in Houghton, Johannesburg. It isa haven of tranquility and old-world charm close to the business districts of Sandton, Rosebank and the JohannesburgCBD. The suites are large and luxurious. All have satellite TV featuring a large variety of channels. Excellent cuisinecan be enjoyed in the private or public dining areas in The Villa, an historic homestead, or on the patio under the oaks.A modern complex offers a conference venue spilling out onto a pool area and large lawns and the Nelson Mandelaroom for smaller meetings. The Foxwood theatre is intimate, ideal for plays, musical evenings or corporatepresentations. There is ample parking in the gardens, excellent security inside and outside and competent, friendlystaff to assist and advise visitors.
Foxwood House:Div 2018/06/01 5:51 AM Page 2
