Fort Armstrong was constructed in 1836 to act as an important military outpost of the British during the Cape Frontier Wars.

It was named after Captain Armstrong who fought in the area alongside the Cape Mounted Rifles during the 6th Frontier War.

It had wattle and daub barracks that could accommodate up to 30 mounted men with ordnance stores, a powder magazine, officers quarters, kitchen stables and cells.

[1] In 1853, during the 8th Frontier War, William Uithaalder, a Khoi who had served in the Cape Corps, led an attack on and took over control of the Fort.

Colonial forces consisting of 200 British soldiers, 400 Burghers, 200 Fingoes, and volunteers from Grahamstown under Commandant Currie regrouped and launched two howitzer attacks against the fort, partially destroying what they built to protect themselves in order to oust Uithaalder.