Byron Street and Sandyford Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Byron Street and Sandyford Street – Formerly Second Street and Hugh Street. The streets south of, and parallel to, Moorhouse Avenue were named in numerical order. The section of Second Street east of Colombo Road was re-named Byron Street. Named after Lord George Gordon Byron (1788-1824). The section of Second Street west of Colombo Street was re-named Sandyford Street. Second Street does not appear in street directories, only maps. On a 1879 map it is shown running from Harper Street (later Orbell Street) to Gasworks Road (later Waltham Road). Re-named Byron Street. Byron was an English poet. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. Aynsleys Alley No 1 was re-named Hugh Street and Aynsleys Alley No 3 was re-named Murray Street, in 1889. Named after Hugh Percy MurrayAynsley (1828-1917). He probably owned the land where the street was formed. Murray Street was renamed Ross Street on 7 March 1904 and became part of Hugh Street in 1934. Hugh Street was incorporated into Byron Street by special order of the Christchurch City Council on 19 July 1976.

A lot of information from the library website and rather confusing information. I decided to do these two streets together as they are practically just one street. When Sandyford St ends it becomes Disraeli St and then becomes Harman St. I have already done Disraeli and Harman Streets. This is a business area of Sydenham and lots of businesses connected to the car industry. Most buildings were older but there were a few brand new buildings. Sydenham was hit badly in the earthquakes. Found some street art on Byron St and I liked the artwork on the Adventure Centre. To cross from Byron St to Sandyford St I had to go under the Durham St bridge. The sign on the Junk and Disorderly shop has the words Grater Goods and this has always puzzled me but I have found out that Grater is the surname of the shop’s owner. When I get time will load a photo of street art.