Middleton Road in Upper Riccarton – Bowens Road was incorporated into Middleton Road. Named after Middleton Grange, Bowen’s home there. Bowens Road was named after Charles Christopher Bowen (1830- 1917). Middleton Road is first mentioned in the Star in1869 when its formation was discussed. First appears in street directories in 1904, running off Bowens Road to McDowells Road (later Wharenui Road). [The road followed a different direction in 1905 as it was then intersected by Hansons Lane.] Bowen was an administrator, politician, poet, magistrate and educationalist. Bowen’s Road is first mentioned in The Press in 1876. Bowen is a resident of the street in 1903, the year it first appears in street directories By 1905 the two streets are amalgamated becoming just Middleton Road.
A reasonable amount of information from the library website. I searched online early maps of Christchurch but none showed this area. Many entries in Papers Past were death notices. Drainage issues were a problem in the 1870s and 1880s but this was the same for most of Christchurch. In 1889 there were complaints about the state of ditches in the street. Between 1896 and 1909 there was frequent talk about road widening. I was amused to see an article in 1915 about there being houses on this street that had electric light installed. In 1918 there was a complaint about a dangerous willow tree on the corner of Middleton Rd and Bowen’s Lane. There were at least two orchards on this street with one belonging to Mr Mullin and the other belonging to Charles Harrow. Sadly in 1913 Charles Harrow accidently drowned on his property. In 1950 the Middleton Grange Homestead that had belonged to Sir Charles Bowen was for sale. The original cob cottage was built in 1858 but had been extended over the years. His land covered an area from Blenheim Rd to Riccarton Rd but had been gradually sold over the years. I believe that it is possible this building is still standing and is now on the grounds of Middleton Grange School. I might need to go back to this area and see if I can sneak a look at it. It was mentioned that William Lovell-Smith owned a big section on the corner of Riccarton Rd and Middleton Road. This would have been opposite the land owned by Sir Charles Bowen. William Lovell-Smith called his house Midway and it is still standing. High fences hide this house. Kate Sheppard lived in this house with William Lovell-Smith and his wife Jennie. After Jennie Lovell-Smith died William went on to marry Kate Sheppard.
Houses on this street cover every decade from 1910 onwards with most built in 1940s, 1950s and 1970s. There are still several older houses on the street but it is impossible to see them from the road as they are now on back sections. There is an entrance to Middleton Park from this street and yes I was geocaching here. Further on towards Blenheim Rd there is Elms Court Village which is a retirement village. There is a cycleway covering much of the street and I believe that this is fairly new.
Lytteltonwitch's Walking the streets of Christchurch Project 