Gibbon Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Gibbon Street in Sydenham – Named after Edward Gibbon (1737-1794). Gibbon was author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. First appears in street directories …

Croydon Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Croydon Street in Sydenham- Probably named after Croydon in Surrey, England Land for sale in “Croydon Street, Sandridge” is advertised in the Star in 1891. First appears in street directories in 1894.A small amount of information on the library website. Not a lot of information on Papers Past. Found the same land for sale ad …

Chaucer Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Chaucer Street in Sydenham – Formerly Wakefield Street. Probably named after The Vicar of Wakefield, by Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774). Re-named Chaucer Street. Named after Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343-1400). Wakefield Street first appears in street directories in 1892. Re-named Chaucer Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were re-named. Both names continue the theme of “poets …

Cameron Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Cameron Street in Sydenham – formerly Campbell Street – Campbell Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1882 when the Sydenham Borough Council was asked to take it over as a public street and “put it into a proper state of repair”. First appears in street directories in 1907. Re-named Cameron Street on 1 …

Austin Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Austin Street in Sydenham – Named after Alfred Austin (1835-1913). Austin was a lawyer, editor and poet and English poet laureate 1896-1913. Probably named to continue the theme of “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. The Sydenham Borough Council …

Burnbrae Street in the suburb of St Martins, Christchurch

Burnbrae St in St Martins- formerly Burnbrae Road. Named after Burnbrae, a house in St Martins in the early 20th century In 1903 an advertisement appears wanting a “strong girl to assist with housework” at “Burnbrae, St Martin’s, near new bridge”. Burnbrae Road is first mentioned in The Press in 1910 in the Lost and …

Longfellow Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Longfellow Street in Sydenham- Named after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882).Longfellow was an American poet. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. Made a public street from 1 January 1888. First appears in street directories in 1907.A small …

Tennyson Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Tennyson Street in Sydenham – Early informal names were Pipers Lane and Pipers Road. Named after George Piper (1843-1909), who was also known as Whistling Piper. Re-named Tennyson Street. Named after Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809- 1892).George Piper and his brother had a brick kiln east of Colombo Street. Their father Thomas also worked there. The …

Percival Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Percival Street in Sydenham – Named after Westby Brook Perceval (1854- 1928). Perceval was a lawyer, politician and agent general. He was member of parliament for Christchurch South from 1887. Percival Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1908 when land for sale there is advertised. First appears in street directories in 1910. A …

Severn Street in the suburb of St Albans, Christchurch

Severn Street in St Albans- formerly Severn’s Road Named after Joseph Samuel John Severn(1821?-1909).Severn was a baker who lived in Church Road (later Rutland Street).Among a number of streets laid out in 1910 by the owners, the Church Property Trustees, and later dedicated to the council. First appears in street directories in 1912. It was …