The Next Generation
William Farmer, already an established business
man by the time he inherited his uncle's estate, rebuild the house,
joining the two houses to form a large home suitable for lavish
entertainment. The gardens were created by Robert Bain, who were
trained at Kew Gardens. As a director of the Union Castle Company,
Farmer entertained many influential public figures at Maynardville,
thus getting greater support in his political carreer as member of
parliament and local government.
William Farmer married the daughter of major Richard Wolfe,
then resident magistrate and civil commissioner of Wynberg. Their
daughter Enid, married John Bernard, a major in the Royal Marines
and had two sons, Gerald and Brain. The homestead was demolished
in 1954 after Gerald sold Maynardville to the City Council of Cape
Town.
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Napoleon fascination
In 1841, the remains of Napoleon was
exhumed from his grave on St Helena and moved to Dôme des
Invalides in Paris. James Maynard then bought the gates
that guarded the St Helena tomb and had them shipped to
Cape Town to be placed at the driveway to his estate.
The Willow grove at Maynardville were cultivated from
cuttings taken from the trees surrounding the tomb.
The gates remained at Maynardville
for 100 years, after which they were returned St Helena to be
restored to the original site.
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