Community marks 200 years since the founding of Farmer Peck’s Inn

Descendants, residents, historians and heritage enthusiasts gathered in Muizenberg Park on Sunday, November 16 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Farmer Peck’s Inn, one of the earliest establishments on the False Bay coastline.

The event, hosted by the Muizenberg Historical Conservation Society, reflected on the legacy of brothers Henry and Simon Peck, whose early entrepreneurship played a key role in Muizenberg’s development.

Family testimony, historical records and presentations outlined how the inn once served travellers, soldiers and dignitaries moving between Wynberg and Simon’s Town.

Speaker Brett McDougall from the Muizenberg Historical Conservation Society explained that the Peck family’s local history began in 1819 when Simon Peck arrived in Simon’s Town from England.

“A year later, he was joined by his brother Henry,” he said, adding that Henry would later become known as the founder of the inn.

By 1825, the brothers had rented a government cottage next to a large British military encampment.

At that time, Muizenberg primarily served as a lookout point for foreign naval vessels entering False Bay.

With travel through dense terrain taking several days, Mr McDougall said the brothers identified “a business opportunity” in providing accommodation, meals and, legally or otherwise, refreshments to travellers and soldiers.

Historical accounts describe Farmer Peck as a charismatic and generous host who treated “rich and poor alike with the same hospitality,” often making visitors feel he was doing them a favour by hosting them.

A notable detail from the inn’s early years is the wording from its original signboard, created by two travellers in exchange for a night’s stay.

The sign included lines such as “Excellent beds without any fleas” and “Life’s but a journey; let us live well on the road,” attributed to the Gentle Shepherd.

The Peck brothers ran the inn into the mid-1800s. Simon died in 1850 and Henry in 1857. The current building on the site, now part of False Bay College, carries a blue heritage plaque unveiled during the commemoration.

A key moment in the programme came when direct descendant Shaheen Peck spoke about his family’s history and the effort to preserve it.

He said his father, Abdullah, who lived until the age of 97, had passed down stories and family artefacts, including a 150-year-old pilgrimage picture frame carried during the Hajj in Mecca by their ancestor Henry (Hasiem) Peck.

This part of the family’s history is significant, as Henry Peck’s son Hashiem embraced Islam, and the branch of the family continues to practise that faith. He said the connection between “family history, craft and faith” has remained strong across generations.

He also noted that the craft of upholstery and diamond-buttoning, once practised by Henry Peck for travelling coachmen, has continued in the family through five generations, including his own children.

After the formalities, attendees visited the original inn site and posed for photographs at the newly restored Muizenberg Historical Conservation Society plaque marking the inn’s founding in 1825.

The event closed with reflections on the importance of shared heritage. One attendee remarked, “History becomes real when we stand where our ancestors stood, and tell their stories together.”

A further link to the family’s legacy is Peck’s Valley, the hiking route in Table Mountain National Park named after the Peck family, whose presence helped shape the area 200 years ago.