On the left is the Hole-in-the-Wall complex. This was originally the Commercial Hotel and managed by "Monty" Tepersen and later by "Maharajah" Lazarus, eventually being managed by Ronnie Hirsch in the 1970's. It was then renowned for it's pub The Hole in the Wall. On the corner of Hunters Lane and Main Street, was the home of Dr MC Hopkins. The first private tennis court was situated in Dr Hopkins' garden.

On the right is the Circle complex. This was initially Somerset House and Dr Willem Morkel the first private general medical practitioner of Somerset West lived here. Dr Morkel died in 1902 and Marks and Possack bought it and changed it into a hotel named the Grand Hotel. Prior to it being demolished and converted into Circle Centre the hotel changed its name to the Somerset Hotel.

On the left was the home of Thomas Martin. He arrived here in 1901 and opened a pharmacy in 1902 situated across the road from where (Modern Outfitters) it now located - this was the site of the home of WM Theunissen after he sold Vergelegen in 1899.

Pharmacy

In 1904 the chemist shop moved its premises to the present site in Main Street. Thomas Martin married Elizabeth Logie, David Logie's daughter. Thomas Martin died at his home in 1958 at the age of 80 years. His grandson, Alan Martin, now runs a pharmacy close to the original home site.

Across the road is "Oudehuis Centre", named after the house "Oudehuis", an attractive gable-ended thatched home owned by DG Steyn in about 1814. This name was later changed to De Groot Verwachting.

In the 1830's the Morkel's bought it and it was run as an inn. After being resold many times, its name was changed to De Hoop and was owned by a Mrs. Malan.

In 1905 Dr Hewatt bought it. In the 1940's it became the Oudehuis Commercial Centre and has remained so ever since. Some early tennants were N Hodge, C N A, and Woolworths.

Town Hall

We now pass Church Street and on the left is the Town Hall. This was originally the home of Mr and Mrs H Boase of Cornwall and was Called Fir Cottage because of the large fir tree in the front garden. The home was destroyed by fire in 1926.

The Town Hall was then built on the site but it too burnt down in the 1930's and was rebuilt. The town hall was the venue of the first Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society production, "The Man from Toronto".

The first government school building in Somerset West was behind the present Town Hall in Church Street.

Across the road is the Magistrate's Court, completed in 1898 when Somerset West became a separate magisterial district. It also served as a post office for some time. It is a national monument.

Next door is the police station. This original building is also a national monument. It was built between 1835 and 1840 and was originally owned by DJ Malan. It was eventually sold by Hester Anna Morkel to Mr George Tubb, the first government school principal in 1878. He must have held classes here until the first school was built in Church Street in 1882. In the 1920's the building served as a library until the library moved to the new Town Hall when it was built.

On the left side of the street is the Standard Bank, which opened here in 1897. It was the first bank in Somerset West and the original building still stands, although altered greatly.