The building of Blanco House, in the style of a Cotswold Mansion, proceeded slowly from 1859. Henry, a wealthy man at the time, suffered a major financial setback in 1860 and died soon after. Blanco House was put up for auction in 1857 "a thatched-roof double-storey building with ten airy rooms, kitchen, pantry, outbuildings and servants' rooms .

The property was subsequently owned by Henri de Maraliac, Robert Drummond and M J Adams, the latter re-naming it Homewood in 1879. At a public auction in 1903 Homewood was sold to Ernest Montagu White, who re-named the house Fancourt in memory of his father - Henry Fancourt White.

Ernest, or Montagu as he was known, spent the English winters at Fancourt. He made extensive improvements to the house, using indigenous timber from forests in the area.

Always immaculately dressed - a Panama hat and a flower in his buttonhole being his trademark - Montagu supervised his estate from a white-canopied cart drawn by a red ox, he painted watercolours, knotted rugs and lived the life of a country gentleman.

Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate, Southern Africa's premier golf golfing and leisure destination, will host The Presidents Cup in 2003.

The prestigious international golf event will be held from
18 - 23 November 2003 on The Links Golf Course at Fancourt.

Sadly, in 1916 Montagu, his sister and a friend succumbed to mushroom poisoning after enjoying a dinner of wild mushrooms picked by Montagu earlier in the day.-The house stood empty for two years after the tragedy, although, it was said, the deceased Montagu and Elizabeth continued to visit the much-loved home!

Rumours of ghosts did not deter Rubin Greer from purchasing Fancourt in 1918. He and his family, which included four daughters, brought music and laughter back to Fancourt. Legend has it that performance of the band members at their dances depended on the liquid refreshment they consumed. Too little and they refused to play, too much and they were unable to play!

A number of owners followed, and a century after Henry Fancourt White built his home it was in disrepair due to neglect. Dr Krynauw bought Fancourt in 1960 and through his skill and excellent taste, the property became a symbol of high-class living once again.

In 1969 Fancourt was sold to a property developer, who went into liquidation soon after. Andre and Helene Pieterse became the new owners and in 1987 they decided to transform their country house into an hotel and golf estate and the Fancourt Hotel opened in grand style on 23 March 1989.

By July 1993, however, Fancourt was on the market once again and in 1994 a German couple, Hasso and Sabine Plattner, bought the estate out of liquidation. Expansion and development proceeded at a fast pace, and when the present becomes history it will be said that Fancourt never stopped growing.

The heart of Fancourt is now the modern clubhouse, but the old Manor House will always hold its soul. When you visit the estate spend time in the stillness of the reading room, walk along the quiet passages. Imagine life as it was then, with Panama hats and buttonholes, with grand pianos, campher-wood kists, old silver and wild mushroom dinners. Imagine you're not alone...