Forgan Lane in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch

Forgan Lane in Halswell – Named after James Forgan (1822-1886). In 1856 Forgan entered into partnership with James Feather (1824-1898) and opened the Halswell Quarry. The street names in the Milns Estate subdivision all have an historical connection with the Halswell area. Named in 1999

A small amount of information from the old library website and not the new revamped unimproved website.

Not much information on Papers Past but did find a letter from William Guise Brittan in 1865 that stated that he had leased his quarry to James Forgan and James Feather. There was an article in 1985 about the Canterbury Museum which mentions James Forgan and James Feather starting Halswell Quarry in the 1850s. In 1870 there were several as James Forgan was selling his property near Timaru as he was leaving the area. His wife Isabel / Isabella died in December 1884 and James died in July 1886 aged 65. He was living on Ferry Rd when he died. I looked at Ancestry website and managed to find a bit of information but it was confusing. James Feather was much easy as he constantly lived on Lincoln Rd. James Forgan moved around a lot and was near Timaru and then in the Mt Grey area. By 1880s he was Wilsons Rd and Ferry Rd. There were a few other addresses but there was a note on the electoral rolls saying that those addresses ceased to possess qualified. James remarried in 1885 to Ruth Beeson a widow. He is buried in Addington Cemetery with both wives. James was born in Govan, Scotland and he emigrated with his wife Isabel in 1860 on the ship Gananoque. James was 38 and his wife 21 when they emigrated. There is no way he managed to start Halswell quarry in 1856 as he wasn’t in New Zealand in 1856. They would have been better at naming the street after James Feather.

There are only 6 houses here built in 2000 and there isn’t a footpath. There is a reserve here with a tennis court and there was a grassy area for me to walk on. No parking available on this street. I am surprised that I hadn’t already walked this street as I am positive that I have found a geocache here. There doesn’t seem to be a geocache here any longer.