Lekkerwijn has a rich history. Harry Pickstone made the T-shaped Cape Dutch Homestead his home in the 1880′s. His grandaughter, Wendy, or great-grandson, Simon, are happy to give guests tours of the house and tell you about its rich history.
The original land grant was given by Jan Van Riebeek to a French Huguenot, Ari Lecrevant, in 1690. The Dutch farmers could not pronounce his name and called him ‘Lekkerwijn’. He was murdered though a few years later by a neighbour. Lekkerwijn was owned by various families. The homestead was probably built in the 1700′s. Harry Pickstone had Sir Herbert Baker design additions, including the double story bedroom wing over 100 years ago. Harry admired Cape Dutch antiques and his collection furnishes the guest house. Harry was sponsored by Cecil Rhodes to start the Rhodes Fruit farms and he was largely responsible for founding South Africa’s export deciduous fruit industry. Simon and Wendy can tell you about, the furniture, the architecture, the fruit industry, the people who lived here and many other aspects of the history of the valley.
Paid tours for visitors not staying at the Lekkerwijn, can be set up by prior arrnagement.
