Grey Hospital, King William's Town. Its formative years

Sir George Grey, Cape Governor and High Commissioner of British Kaffraria from 1854 to 1861, was the moving force behind the creation of proper hospital facilities in King William's Town for the Xhosa population of Ciskei and further afield. Grey's first step was to appoint Dr J. P. FitzGerald as Superintendent of Native Hospitals. FitzGerald opened the forerunner of Grey Hospital on 28 April 1956 in 18 cottages in the Pensioners' Village in King William's Town. During this phase the Superintendent played a major role in relieving the suffering during the cattle-killing mania in which an estimated 50,000 Xhosa eventually perished. He and Grey were also largely responsible for the erection of the Native Hospital which was designed by Woodford Pilkington. This imposing building cost over 16,000 pounds and was opened on 14 June 1859. As a fitting tribute to Sir George Grey the building was officially named Grey Hospital in 1887. This declared monument is today the oldest and best known institution in King William's Town and is still in use as a hospital.