Cashel Street in the Central City, Christchurch

Cashel Street in the Central City- Named after the bishopric of Cashel. One of the original streets of Christchurch named in 1850 by Edward Jollie (1825-1894) and Captain Joseph Thomas (b. 1803). The names were taken from bishoprics listed in Burke’s Peerage. The Rt. Rev. Robert Daly, Bishop of Cashel and Waterford (1783-1872), was John Robert Godley’s uncle. First mentioned in The Lyttelton Times in 1851.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. Note this is only covering the street from Rolleston Ave to Fitzgerald Ave. There was a huge amount of information on Papers Past and decided to mostly limit my research to before 1860. Some of the businesses mentioned were Sucklings Shoe Shop, A E White selling cattle, Hallensteins Bros, John Anderson blacksmith, Mrs Watson dressmaker and her husband Mr Watson tailor, J Skillicorn wedding rings and bridal attire, Mr Thompson Christian books and bibles, Michael Sharp bricklayer, White Hart Inn and Auction Rooms, Joseph Denham baker, A Knight coal Merchant, Rees and Dorset painters, Thackers Store and J S Gundry Surgeon and accoucheur late surgeon of the Barque Steadfast. Richard Parker who ran a General Store had a huge amount of entries. In 1855 Mr H E Tyson was offering board and residence at Durham House on the corner of Cashel St and Manchester St. In 1854 there was a girls school set up in a house and the headmistress was Mrs F Thompson. In 1852 D Inwood opened a new Bakehouse next to Dr Gundry’s premises. Clarkson and Artkinson drapery shop was where Ballantynes is now sited. Clarkson and Atkinson eventually dissolved their partnership and Clarkson carried on the business in a building called Dunstable House. This business was sold to William Pratt who then sold the business to Ballantyne family. They extended the building in 1897 and this building was destroyed in the famous tragic fire in 1947. The surveyor Charles Fooks lived on the street. The corner of Cashel St and Colombo St opposite Ballantyne’s store was known as Hobday’s Corner. Hobday Building burnt down in 1888 and a new building was built in 1889 and I suspect it was the old Beaths and DIC building. In 1973 and 1974 I worked at Mrs Popes and this business moved to Cashel St in 1914 and previous to this they were on Colombo St near Victoria Square. Other places I remember were Fails Cafe, Whitcoulls, Copenhagan Bakery, Hannah’s Shoe Shop, Suckling’s Shoe Shop, Murray’s Chemist and Zetland Hotel which became Cafe Bleu. Many of my bookcrossing friends will remember Cafe Bleu as we had many bookcrossing meet ups here including during conventions. I ran into Joe the owner of Cafe Bleu last year and he is very happy to be retired. The Cafe was destroyed in the earthquakes. I also knew this area well from when I worked in the Square from 2004 to 2009,I started walking from Rolleston Ave and at this end there are many buildings housing out of town cancer patients. This includes Ronald McDonald House. There is an Art Deco building called College Flats and it was opened in December 1937. The most recognisable structure is the Bridge of Remembrance and then it is Cashel Mall. This area was a street when I worked here in the 1970s and I can’t remember when it became a pedestrian mall. I was going to get an icecream at Rollickin Gelato but they had a huge queue because of Mother’s Day. Some of the shops here are clothing shops, souvenir shop and Ballantynes. At the Westpac I chatted to a couple who were admiring the lego display of the Strip. A friend of mine made the display and is that area of Oxford Tce still called the Strip. Cross Colombo St and there is the ANZ and even more shops. The tram goes through Cashel Mall and stops near High St. There is an entrance to Shades Arcade from Cashel Mall. There is lots of empty spaces and at Madras St I was surprised to find that the road was blocked off so I had to detour around this. The road is closed between Madras St and Barbadoes St. Many businesses here and some of them were Les Mills, Elim Church, Alliance Francaise, Oriental Warehouse, Radio NZ and a motel. Too many businesses for me to remember them all and I also can’t remember all the businesses that were here from before the earthquakes. When I returned from living in the UK the Restart / Container Mall was in Cashel Mall and I actually quite liked it.