HISTORY OF 120 HIGH STREET
The quaint, white iron fence surrounding the stone house at 120 High Street belies its rich history as one of the oldest medical practices in Grahamstown, and what is believed to be one of the oldest medical practices in the country.
HISTORY OF 120 HIGH STREET
The quaint, white iron fence surrounding the stone house at 120 High Street belies its rich history as one of the oldest medical practices in Grahamstown, and what is believed to be one of the oldest medical practices in the country.
It was established in 1884 by Dr John Baldwin Smithson Greathead, who rescued it from a far bloodier end. It was set to become a butchery before he bought the property, which has been serving patients for over 127 years. Greathead lived and practiced there since its establishment, but moved out following the death of his wife in 1892.
His partner Dr Dru Drury moved into 120 High Street with his family, and stayed there until his death in 1947 – 55 years later. Two other doctors moved in following this from1950 until 1955. Dr Wylde and his family took up residence in the house from 1956 until 1981 when plans were put in place to convert the building into a full surgery.
The practice at 120 High Street split up in 1944, with half the practice moving down to the then divisional council buildings further down on High Street (near CNA bookstore), and the other half staying put. The practice was rejoined 40 years later in 1984.
According to Dr Herbert Campbell Barrow Evans, who has been at 120 High Street since 1976, rejoining the practice was a smart move: “I think that was a wonderful thing because our side [120 High Street] had the academics and legal firms and theirs had more of the farming and town folk. When we rejoined the practice we had patients who had been away from our building for 40 years and they were so excited to see old waiting room toys, a stuffed lion in particular. To this day I regret we didn’t keep them,” he said.
“Once we rejoined the practice there’s no doubt that a couple of the more fancy judges in town were a bit taken aback when a farmer brought his sheep in to show off. We’ve also had lion cubs and baby warthogs come into the waiting room which has caused a bit of mirth and is slightly different to what the more staid people are used to,” Evans said
According to Evans, when the practice was first established there were forage rooms as well as a stable at the back of the building, which later became a workshop, with the surgery occupying a smaller room with two or three doctors. The practice has developed significantly since then. “At the moment we have this huge rabbit warren with a cardiogram room and ultrasound room, eight surgeries and a specialist clinic,” he said.
One of the practice's oldest patients recently passed away at 102, and had been coming to 120 High Street from since 1929. But Evans believes the practice has a happy balance between their elderly patients and the transient student population.
“But it’s fantastic when 20 years later those same students bring their children to [Rhodes] university, Evans said, I’ve found it more and more interesting that the mothers are terrified that we will remember how they behaved as students. There’s no ways we can remember that far back, but that’s quite fun.”
Evans feels proud and humbled to have worked at 120 High Street for 36 years: “It’s a special feeling and a huge privilege. After we rejoined the practice we had new doctors coming on board. At the moment there are eight of us, and it’s a huge privileged to be with people who share the same ethics and morals and help each other at any time of day or night.”
PROFILE OF DR GREATHEAD
The son of two 1820 British settlers, Dr John Baldwin Smithson Greathead moved to Grahamstown in 1879. His family had initially travelled back and forth from Aliwal North by ox wagon, before settling here permanently. He attended St Andrews College, along with his seven brothers, from 1869 to 1871.
He attended Edinburgh University and St Batholomew’s Hospital in Britain and used his medical knowledge to help the citizens of Grahamstown by etsablishing a medical practice at 120 High Street in 1884. According to St Batholomew’s Hospital obituary “he enjoyed a well-deserved reputation throughout South Africa for brilliant general surgery and sound ophthalmic surgery. He was known for his dedication to the practice and remarked to an assistant in 1899: “I work very hard and expect you to do the same.”
His most prominent positions included senior surgeon at Albany General Hospital from 1880, and Albany district surgeon and public vaccinator from 1886. He was an avid sportsman, and was always at the St Andrews alumni games. According to St Andrews College Magazine, published in 1910, “he loved the school and watched its career with the closest and most jealous eye.”
Greathead was also a keen huntsman, taking frequent trips into Africa. He retired from his practice in 1909 after 25 years, leaving it in the hands of Dr Dru Drury, only one year before his death from sleeping sickness on 26 October 1910, during a hunting trip to Zambia.
