Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

Lois Place in Richmond- formerly Bassett Place. Named after Lois Gwendoline Curtis, née Bassett, (1904- 1985). The Bassetts were early settlers in the Richmond area. Bassett Place first appears in street directories in 1933. Re-named Lois Place on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were re-named. A small amount of information from the library website. …

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Racecourse Road in Sockburn – Named because of its proximity to Riccarton Racecourse. First appears in street directories in 1903. A tiny amount of information from the library website and the name is obvious. Riccarton Racecourse is still there. There was a huge number of entries for Racecourse Road on Papers Past as so many …

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Showgate Avenue in Sockburn – formerly Showgate Drive. Named after a galloper, Showgate.Formed on a subdivision of the Riccarton Racecourse. Showgate Drive first appears in street directories in 1993. Becomes Showgate Avenue in 1995. A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name. All the houses …

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Kumai Place in Sockburn- Named after a galloper, Kumai. Formed on a subdivision of the Riccarton Racecourse. First appears in street directories in 1993. A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name. There are 9 houses here all built in the 1990s but none of …

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Thornhill Place in Sockburn – First appears in street directories in 1991. A tiny amount of information from the library website. I assume that because this street runs off Racecourse Rd that there is a horse racing reason for the name but couldn’t find any information to confirm this. There was a horse called Thornhill …

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Murfitt Place in Sockburn- Named after the Murfitt family. The Murfitts are a prominent horseracing family. John Murfitt (1918?-1939), a jockey, died from injuries when a horse rolled on him at Riccarton. Formed on a subdivision of part of the Riccarton Racecourse. First appears in street directories in 1993. A small amount of information from …

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Lowther Street in Sockburn and there wasn’t any information on the library website for this street. Searched Papers Past and there was only three entries and two involved name change of the street. In 1969 Racecourse Rd deviation was renamed Lowther St and in 1971 there was an accident on the street. I searched Ancestry …

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Woodchester Ave in Richmond – Named after Woodchester, the house belonging to Henry Dent Gardiner (1828- 1909). Gardiner retired to this house after leaving Purau in 1886. The land around the property was subdivided after his death in 1909. Two “beautifully-situated sections in the Woodchester subdivision, Gardiner’s estate, Richmond” are advertised for sale in the …

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Tilia Lane in Richmond- nothing on library website. This street doesn’t exist any longer and it was probably a private lane. It ran off Woodchester Ave and bordered by a building for the Shirley Tennis Club with houses on the other side. The Shirley Tennis Club building and the houses no longer exist. It was …

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Pamir Street in Mairehau – First appears in street directories in 1953. A tiny amount of information from the library website. Papers Past didn’t have must information either. A few death notices and a couple of engagement notices. In 1948 under naming of new streets it was described as a blind street of Kelly’ Rd …

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