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Information & Pictures > History of Cranberry Back to Information & Pictures
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MAINHOUSE BEFORE |

MAIN HOUSE AFTER
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THE ANNEX BEFORE |

THE ANNEX AFTER |
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FRONT OF CRANBERRY BEFORE |

FRONT OF CRANBERRY NOW |
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DINNING ROOM BEFORE
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DINNING ROOM NOW
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COTTAGE ROOM BEFORE |

COTTAGE ROOM AFTER |
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A Short History of Cranberry Cottage
Cranberry Cottage, a turn of the century home was built along typical lines of the time, using our local sandstone.
The original title deeds of the main property dates back to 1877 when land was given to the Boers by president Brand to create a buffer zone along the Basutoland (Lesotho) border.
The original deeds can be viewed on request.
Ladybrand sandstone was also used in the construction of the union building in Pretoria.
The original owner George and Bev Missing bought no 37 Beeton street from the deceased estate of a Miss Pohl, a well known and much loved member of the Ladybrand community. They paid the pricey sum of R50 000 for the property.
After various conversions to the house, Cranberry Cottage was born!!
In May 1993 Cranberry Cottage opened it doors with one bedroom!!
Another Five rooms were gradually added.
In 1994 the property across the street was bought and converted into another seven bedrooms with a swimming pool.
In 1995 the disused Ladybrand station was hired from Spoornet and the gracious sandstone building was converted into four self catering rooms, Station Master, Signal, Ticket office and Waiting room.
Later the property next to Cranberry Cottage was bought adding another five luxury rooms.
The 1st March 2004 Pine and Driena Pienaar and Norman and Marina Reinach, business partner and friends bought and took over Cranberry Cottage from George and Bev.
Soon after take over Pine and Norman realised Cranberry Cottage, then with eighteen rooms and four at the station a total of twenty two became too small to accommodate all our guests. It was then decided to add another three De lux rooms, Tree house, Katse and a new honeymoon suite Mohale.
At the same time DSTV were added to all rooms (12 channel), telephones were installed in all rooms as well as air conditioning for the hot summer and cold winter nights.
Another six de lux rooms were added in September 2008. Cranberry Cottage now has thirty one rooms, with a Conference Centre for 120 people which opened September 2006. In September 2006 a Wellness Centre and a Private Gym were added.
Cranberry Cottage will for the next hundred years still offer our guests real hospitality, good food and comfortable rooms.
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