Fort Selwyn

The hill overlooking Grahamstown from the east on which the prominent Settlers Monument is situated is called Gunfire Hill. In 1835 during the 6th Frontier War (there were nine Frontier wars stretching over 100 years) it was decided to built a fort on top of the hill to protect the approaches to the town as … Continue reading Fort Selwyn →

Grahamstown Observatory Museum

My visit to Grahamstown with Chaos Boy started on a high note with our visit to the Natural Science Museum but he got bored at the History Museum, so when I told him that we were going to a third museum he was obviously a bit reluctant to go in case it was boring again. Oh … Continue reading Grahamstown Observatory Museum →

Grahamstown History Museum

The second museum that forms part of the Albany Museum Complex in Grahamstown is the History Museum. This museum was established in 1965 and used to be known as the 1820 Settlers Memorial Museum. A couple of years ago it was decided to not just focus on the contribution of the 1820 British Settlers to the … Continue reading Grahamstown History Museum →

Grahamstown Natural Science Museum

Like father, like son. Chaos Boy has developed an interest in geography, the world, its wonders and its interesting bits and pieces like archaeology, legends and mysteries. One night I was reading to him about Egypt (he chose the book, not me) and I told him that there is a real mummy in the Natural Science Museum in Grahamstown. He … Continue reading Grahamstown Natural Science Museum →

British Settlers Family Statue

The area from Port Elizabeth eastwards, specially around Grahamstown and Bathurst, is where the British Settlers settled in 1820 (see here and here). On top of Gunfire Hill overlooking Grahamstown is the big Settlers Monument building and just down the road from it visitors will find the British Settlers Family statue. The statue depicts a settler … Continue reading British Settlers Family Statue →

Observatory Museum

Every now and then I find a couple of photos on the archives that I haven't posted and today is no different. The Observatory museum in Grahamstown is a fascinating place and contains the only Victorian Camera Obscura in the Southern Hemisphere. The building was bought by Henry Galpin in 1859 and extensive changes were … Continue reading Observatory Museum →

Grahamstown views

The town of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape is more than a town, its actually the smallest city in the country. It is seen as a city as it has a cathedral. Grahamstown is home to Rhodes University, but also has quite a few other iconic buildings. The photo above was taken looking south towards … Continue reading Grahamstown views →

Rhodes University Clocktower

Rhodes University in Grahamstown was founded in 1904. Rhodes has over 7,000 students, about 3,000 whom live on campus in the various residences while the remaining students (known as oppidans) take residence in diggs or in their own homes in town. When the holidays start the average age of the population of Grahamstown inceases drastically … Continue reading Rhodes University Clocktower →

1820 Settlers Monuments

The town of Grahamstown (well, its actually a city as it has a cathedral) in the Eastern Cape is situated right in the middle of Settlers country. It is in this area that the 1820 British Settlers (see here, here and here for the Settler story) settled down and it was inevetable that the town … Continue reading 1820 Settlers Monuments →

Commemoration Methodist Church

The Commemorative Methodist Church, or as the locals call it The Commem, stands at the bottom of church square in the beautiful Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown. The church was completed in 1850 and was built along the Gothic Revival lines which was very "in" at that stage. In front of the church stands the … Continue reading Commemoration Methodist Church →