Page 198 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

Running parallel to St. James Road was Auret’s stable and loft where he stored his fishing

gear. It was in this loft that he hid two Boer escapees from the prisoner-of-war camp in

Simon’s Town. The British searched Auret’s premises but were unable to find the men
hidden among the fishing nets which had been hoisted off the floor. They continued their

escape under the cover of darkness and later joined up with General Smuts’ forces in
Namaqualand. They sent a message to Auret stating simply “The shepherd has found his

sheep”. The loft, now tiled, still stands alongside St. James Road.

After Auret’s death in 1902, aged 83, Thomas A. Greenshields bought the premises. (D.T.

15592 of 19 October 1903) and re-named them "The Nest". He did a number of alterations,
but kept the ambience of the thatched cottage. It was here that Edie Sand operated a

photographic studio in the 1940s and 50s.

The St. James Hotel, Star of the Sea, and St. James Church

Across the road from the St. James Station is the St. James Hotel, originally "La Rivage"

and the home of J. A. Atwell who died in 1897 in London, prior to his taking occupation of
the house. The architects were Black and Fagg who did many homes in the area, including

"Braeside" for Mr. J. B. Wiley in 1914. The history of the St. James Hotel is well

documented as is that of Star of the Sea. Architect Luybinski did much work for Star of the
Sea, including the new school hall in 1958. The St. James Church enjoyed the architectural

services of George Ransome who designed "Knights Villa" on Main Road Muizenberg, as
well as the first Muizenberg School. He lived for a while in "Highcliffe", Jacobs Ladder.

The presbytery, (Fig. 4.9) home of the legendary Father John Duignam for over 50 years

(1874 - 1925), was originally a thatched building but was redesigned in the early 1950s

during Father Doran’s priesthood (1943 – 1971). Father Harold Doran, while not probably
enjoying as much fame as Father Duignam, was an outstanding priest. It was he who

redesigned the St. James Church to today’s structure changing the position of the Main

195