Chancery Lane in the Central City. Nothing on the library website as a street but Christchurch suburbs list has it on it’s list. The library does have a good article on it’s website about this lane.
Sadly this lane is no longer there as it suffered badly in the earthquakes and today I couldn’t see where it used to be. The new convention centre is being built in this area.
Papers Past had on 25/01/ 1881 a council note about the newly formed right of way that appears to be known as Chancery Lane. Note there was also a Chancery Lane in Auckland and obviously the one in London so there was a huge number of entries on this website.
I was amused to see that there was a lot of complaints about cyclists in this lane.We all know how I feel about cyclists. The fact there was a Matrimonial Agency here I found amusing and that was dated 1895. One naughty person in 1913 was running a gaming house.
The was a Chancery Lane Hall that seemed to be a busy wee place. Some of the societies that used the hall were Canterbury Women’s Institute, NZ Fabian Society, Plunket Society and Social Hygiene Society. In 1912 there was a meeting of Natives of Sussex.
I didn’t go past 1920 as there was too many entries.
Chancery Lane was a narrow wee lane and I loved it. When going to High School I would get the bus from the train station to the Square and then walk to school through this lane. I wish that I could remember all the shops that were here. The only one that sticks in my mind is the magic shop.
In my late teens and early 20s I vaguely remember a nightclub that was upstairs. I also remembering visiting the Media Club and I have no idea how I managed to get into that one.
In my later years especially when I was working in the Square it was my short cut to the library.
I am sure that my Christchurch friends will have other memories of this lane. Their memories hopefully will trigger more memories for me.
Lytteltonwitch's Walking the streets of Christchurch Project 