The Meikles journey started in the late nineteenth century when the Meikle brothers, John, Steward and Thomas came emigrated from Scotland. The brothers set up their first trading business in Fort Victoria, now Masvingo. Considered the driving force of the Meikle brothers, Thomas Meikle then set up a The Meikles Hotel in November 1915. On the November 14, 2015, its celebrated its Hundredth Anniversary.
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The Meikles Hotel has stayed under the patronage of the Meikle family to date. Thomas Meikle’s grandson, John Moxon, sits on the Board of Meikles Limited Board. – http://www.newzimbabwe.com/ |
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Two beloved Lions, symbolic of strength and stability, now flank a cupola on the restructured North Wing of the hotel. They were intricately sculpted from stone in 1912 in Italy by Euletto Jotto and originally stood above the west front of the old hotel building, which was opened in 1915 and later demolished in 1972. Legend has it that whenever a virgin walks past the lions let out a roar. Two replica pairs of the lions now also occupy the main portico that faces east and the western entrance to the foyer facing the city. –http://www.meikles.com/ |
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Thomas Meikle affectionately known as Tom, was born in 1862, he was the eldest son of John Meikle of Strathavon (Scotland) and Sarah of Avondale. The suburbs of Strathavon and Avondale in Salisbury (now known as Harare) were named after their respective birth places. – http://www.bulawayo1872.com/ |
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The founder of Meikles Hotel died in 1939 and was buried at Mabukuwene Gardens. Mabukuwene is a tranquil place of indigenous trees and granite boulders in the suburb of Burnside, Bulawayo. – http://www.bulawayo1872.com/ |
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Thomas Meikle decided to pursue his vision (originally conceived with brother Stewart before he died) of constructing a hotel on the influential site of Cecil Square (now Africa Unity Square) in the heart of the capital city. He maintained his permanent home in Bulawayo but kept an apartment at the hotel for his travels to the capital. – http://www.meikles.com/ |
