| Some 100 years ago thousands of men crossed this territory on foot, with no transport other than horses and horse drawn wagons, most were on foot. | ||
| Armies fought each other in bloody battles under difficult conditions. | ||
| Through it all, and through the 118 day siege of Ladysmith, the ROYAL HOTEL stayed 'open for business'. | ||
| Some of the famous personalities who have stayed at the Royal Hotel are Frank Rhodes, Leander Starr Jamieson, Melton Prior, and Dr. Stark who was fatally wounded by a Long Tom shell while standing in the Hotel doorway. | ||
| There is a great deal of history in the story of Ladysmith - an important rail junction, coaching stop for the mining magnates between Durban and Johannesburg, and supply town for the agricultural community. | ||
| Perhaps the most important and interesting part of this history is to be found in the superb Siege Museum at the Town Hall. | ||
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