Hammerton Lane in Heathcote and nothing on the library website. The article Heathcote’s Lovely Lanes by Barrie Wood has the best information. Hammerton Lane takes its name from the 150 acre
Heathcote Valley estate owned by early pioneer Isaac
Cookson. The estate was named after ‘Green Hammerton’ a village in North Yorkshire, England. The name Hammerton was also given to the first ‘township’ in Heathcote Valley, which was located around the area where the Valley Inn is now located. This was part of the original Hammerton Estate and allotments were sold from about 1863. The name ‘Hammerton’ did not endure for the settlement, which eventually became known as Heathcote. Today it is remembered as Hammerton Lane.
Papers Past didn’t have anything for Hammerton Lane. Under Hammerton Green the earliest mention that I found was in 1854 relating to Isaac Cookson’s address. All strange horses and cattle found wandering on the land will be impounded. In 1860 there were ads for the sale of the freehold property Green Hammerton which was 150 acres and included the house and paddocks plus the Inn known as Martins Cottage. in 1862 there was a farewell dinner for Mr and Mrs Cookson as they were returning to England. They were returning to England as their daughter in England was ill. Sadly the daughter died before they arrived back in England.
In 1863 there were sections for sale adjacent to the railway station in the village of Hammerton. Some ads called it the township of Hammerton. Cookson is supposed to be responsible for the first beehives in New Zealand.
There are only about 4 or 5 houses here on a very narrow lane and I didn’t feel comfortable to walk this tiny lane. Basically the narrow short lane leads to houses which have very long driveways.
Lytteltonwitch's Walking the streets of Christchurch Project 