Shakespeare Road in the suburb of Waltham, Christchurch

Shakespeare Rd in Waltham- Named after William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Shakespeare was a playwright. 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. First appears in street directories in 1887.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the naming of the street.In 1881 the Board of Heath were concerned about stagnant water in the old clay pits between the railway and Shakespeare Rd. Note typhoid was an issue in Christchurch and there were many deaths from this disease. In 1883 there was a complaint about the wild and untrimmed gorse hedges on this street and the council were prepared to look at the problem. In 1884 it was recommend that a gas street lamp be installed. In 1886 the council wanted landowners to give up part of their properties for widening the road. In 1888 there were complaints from the residents about the bad and dangerous state of the road and possibly the council listened as in 1898 the footpaths were to be asphalted.Huge number of birth and death notices and between 1917 and 1920 many births were at Nurse Rastrick’s place at 9 Shakespeare Rd.This street runs from Waltham Rd to Wilsons Rd and it is mostly a business area but I was surprised at how many houses here especially towards Wilsons Rd end. Most are very modern townhouses but not sure that I would like to live in them. One house dates from 1890 but I wouldn’t have picked it as that old and I didn’t get a photo. Wouldn’t be surprised if it is eventually demolished. A few from 1910 to 1915 and a couple from 1970 and 1980. The older houses weren’t in a great condition.