Walton Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Walton Street in Sydenham – Named after Sir Izaak Walton (1593-1683). Walton was an English biographer best known for The Compleat Angler. 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 1892. A small amount of information from the library website and I couldn’t find any extra information about the name of the street. I did find an Edward Walton living in the area and he died in 1888 but unlikely that the street was named after him as his occupation was labourer. Papers Past had the usual birth and death notices plus one engagement notice. A few entries in 1884 relating to the metalling of the street. In February the residents requested metalling of the street. This was approved but in August the council said that as the residents failed to comply with the conditions the council labourers will be doing the work at the cost of £18. I believe that the residents of the street are then charged this amount for the council doing the work. In July there was a letter to the editor about the state of the street calling it Slough of Despond. Walton St is described as being opposite the Show Grounds on Colombo St. I believe that the Show Grounds were where Sydenham Park is now situated. I can’t remember the date when it was moved to Lincoln Rd. New sewers were laid in 1912. There must have been a fire station nearby on Colombo St as they were looking at a house in Walton St to house married firemen. I was amused to see that one of the residents in 1898 had the name Annie Oakley. Sadly it was in a death notice. In June 1933 a Sydenham depot for Metropolitan Relief Association was opened on Walton St. It was only open for 6 months and it that time it is believed that they fed 16,290 adults and 18,150 children. In 1901 the council accepted an offer from the trustees of the estate of Mr Wilson for widening Hutcheson St and Walton St. In 1902 the street was extended to Colombo St and in 1912 it was extended to Cadogan St. I was surprised to read the 1902 notice about extending the street to Colombo St as the letter to the editor dated 1884 gave the impression that it ran off Colombo St. There are 37 houses on this street are there are several built in 1910 and 1915 and sadly most are in a very rundown condition. Several built in 1980s and 1990s and nothing outstanding about them. There was a couple of several flats that had a sign at the entrance Alternative Accommodation – Holiday Houses. I googled but couldn’t find out any more information about them. The street runs from Cadogan St to Colombo St and at the Colombo St end there is a small shopping centre plus an entrance to Super Liquor. I didn’t really like this street and it wasn’t helped by a car parked on the footpath and when I squeezed past the car the dog in the property got upset. It barked and tried jumping over the fence. Note there was plenty of room to have parked in their backyard. I possibly muttered stupid idiots. The best thing on this street is probably Funky Pumpkin’s giant pumpkin on the corner at Colombo St.