Old Morley

In 1828 the Wesleyan Missionary Society established a station at Amadola. A year later it was attacked and burnt down by amaMfengu warriors. The name amaMfengu means “wanderers” and the Fingo nation – like the Bhaca, Bhele, Hlubi and Zizi peoples – was formed from the tribes that were broken up and dispersed by Shaka and his Zulu armies in the Mfecane wars. Most of them fled westwards and settled amongst the Xhosa. After some years of oppression by the Gcaleka Xhosa (who called the Fengu their “dogs”), they formed an alliance with the Cape government in 1835 and were invited by Sir Benjamin d’Urban to settle on the banks of the Great Fish River in the region that later became known as the Ciskei.

The amaFengu were known across Southern Africa as skilled gunmen, were invaluable allies of the Cape Colony in its frontier wars. They subsequently became notable allies of the Cape Colony in the Frontier Wars against their former oppressors. In this capacity, they won several victories against their Xhosa enemies (particularly the Gcaleka Xhosa), and through shrewd and successful management of regional trade, formed a developed and materially successful nation. In addition, many bought farms and started businesses in the small towns that were springing up in that part of the Cape frontier. Consequently, in 1830, it was removed to Morley, a site also known locally as Wilo. It remained there until 1863 when it was resited once again to a new location 13km nearer the coast. This then became known as New Morley or, more simply, as Morley. Old Morley, as it was now referred to, became a trading station. This settlement was visited by James Backhouse in March 1839 when he made the following report: "Morley is a flourishing Station. Its population was at this time about 300. The Mission-house was a neat, brick building; in front of it a few shrubs were enclosed within a fence. A brick house was in course of erection for the Catechist. The chapel was likewise a brick building. Two cottages of wattle-and-dab were occupied by the Catechist and others connected with the mission. The Interpreter had erected for himself a wattle-and-dab cottage, of two rooms, with a chimney and a four-paned window. Wood and grass are abundant here, rain being frequent.