Established in 1849 as a mission station, it was located at Lombard's Post,[1] a fortified farmhouse originally granted to Pieter Lombard in 1790 as a leningsplaas (loan farm).

[1] In the mid-19th century it hosted a Xhosa school, which was closed down during Mlanjeni's War.

[3] The local St James Anglican Church was built in 1870.

[4][5] The foundation stone was laid by Nathaniel Merriman, Archdeacon of Grahamstown.

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