Stellenberg

 In upper Kenilworth is the Dutch homestead known as Stellenberg.  The house has had several incarnations, such as a farm dwelling, a country house, a manor house and a patrician residence. The house sits at the crossroads of four oak-lined avenues. Simon van der Stel granted the estate of 57 morgans to Jacob Vogel in 1697 it was immediately transferred to Frans van der Stel on very favourable terms. Senior officials of the VOC were forbidden to grant land to their relatives, so Frans made a token payment to Jacob Vogel

Willem Adriaan and Frans were banished from the Cape.in 1707 and Stellenberg was sold to Christina van Canarij, a few years later. She was one of three pre-eminent and successful slave women who had been freed by Simon Van Der Stel. She lived in  Stellenberg with her husband until she died in 1725.

The house is currently owned by the Ovenstone family. The garden has been renovated and run by Sandy Ovenstone. The project began in the mid-1980s The property is divided into a series of garden “rooms” that interlink.

There are 16 distinct areas such as the Garden of Paradise, the Herb Garden the Walled Garden, and the Pool Garden for example

Careful attention has been paid to the plants and their positioning.

Visits to the garden are by appointment only on Tuesdays to Fridays from 10h00 – 13h00 and from 14h00 – 16h30.  The last bookings are taken at 15h00  The gardens are not open on weekends.

Visitors are welcome to the Nursery and plants are available for sale. It is open Monday to Friday, 09h00 to 16h30.

32 Oak Ave Kenilworth

stellenberggardens@ovenstones.co.za