Cambridge Terrace in the Central City, Christchurch

Cambridge Tce in the Central City – Waterloo Terrace. Avonside Road was incorporated into Cambridge Terrace. Named after Cambridge University. Cambridge does not have a cathedral so this is out-of-step with the method used by Jollie and Thomas in naming other streets. 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. On an 1879 map Cambridge Terrace West intersects Market Square (later Victoria Square). Waterloo Terrace was the name on the first plan of the road along the river [Avon] from Market Place to past the Foresters’ Hall ie. from near the Oxford-on-Avon and the Plunket Rooms around to near the Centennial Leisure Centre. (Buildings demolished after the 2010/2011 earthquakes). Avonside Road was the section just south of the Barbadoes Street Cemetery, adjacent to the river bank and the river, across the river from the Avon Loop, east of Barbadoes Street and round past Churchill Street to Fitzgerald Avenue. Incorporated into Cambridge Terrace.

A reasonable amount of information from the library website. Papers Past had thousands of entries so I made the decision to only look at the entries before 1900. Waterloo Terrace was only mentioned in connection with a new footbridge in 1852. The other mentions of Waterloo Terrace was in various articles in the 1930s when a document had been discovered mentioning it as the previous name for Cambridge Tce. I then sidetracked while I googled G H Wilson a curative mesmerist and medical galvanist who was living in Cambridge Tce in the 1860s and 1870s. There was a mention in 1929 about his cottage was still standing. Note he died in 1877. The Primitive Methodist Church laid the foundation stone for the church in 1873. There were sections for sale in 1878. In the 1870s and 1880s the Oddfellows Hall is mentioned. Drainage complaints were fairly frequent. I was amused by how many people had to pay fines for letting livestock roam especially horses and cows. The new public library opened in 1876. In 1871 there were dramatic headlines The Tragedy in Cambridge Terrace. I suggest you google Simon Cedeno. Huge number of sporting notices for the street.

I have probably missed a lot by limiting myself to pre 1900 but this was a very busy main street in Christchurch. It was also badly affected by the earthquakes with the fact that it follows the Avon River. I walks parts of this street frequently and in January last year I walked the street in its entirety. I started at the Antigua Street Boatsheds and near here there are a couple of houses dating from the 1930s. I then reached Cashel St and there is a few metres on Cashel St before rejoining Cambridge Tce. Now Cambridge Tce is slightly weird here as it runs between Durham St South and Durham St North and many people think that it is actually Durham St. The old library that was built in 1876 was in this section and I can vaguely remember it. There is a lovely old building along here which is called The Canterbury Club and on the opposite corner is the Harley Building. The Harley Building is in a dreadful state and has been closed since the earthquakes. There is then a big gap and I walked through Victoria Square to rejoin Cambridge Tce which is now a walkway. After Manchester St it is a road again briefly but just seems to be a place for people to park. Becomes a walkway again until after I cross Madras St. I then have to walk a few metres on Barbadoes St before rejoining Cambridge Tce where it becomes a road again. Walk past the Barbadoes St Cemetery and the street ends at Fitzgerald Ave. This end of the street has some lovely old houses and the oldest is from 1890 but my favourite is the one from 1900 as it is gorgeous. I seriously should have looked at old maps as I am sure that it didn’t use to be such a higgledy piggledy street. I took a huge amount of photos on my walk.