1820 Settlers
The 1820 Settlers is a general term to refer to several groups or parties of white British colonists settled by the British government and the Cape authorities in the South African Eastern Cape in 1820, with some moving on to the Cape or Natal.
As a group they had an important impact on the commerce and culture of their new country, and a large number of arts, literature theatre and media related individuals and projects emanated from them.
In 1920 the 1820 Settlers Association was founded by Sir Walter Stanford and other descendants and the settlers are commemorated in Grahamstown to this day by the 1820 Settlers National Monument, which opened in 1974, a living monument, containing a fully equipped theatre (the Monument Theatre), which hosts plays, musical performances and cultural events, and the key venue for the original Grahamstown Festival (later renamed the National Arts Festival).
