Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

Rowallan Lane in Spreydon – First appears in street directories in 1957. A tiny amount of information from the library website and they also have this street as Rowallan Ave. I was slightly confused as this lane runs off Andrews Crescent and I have already walked Andrews Crescent so why hadn’t I already walked it. …

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Hammond Place in Spreydon – Developed in the subdivision of Hancock’s block. In a government housing subdivision and developed off Barrington Street to give access to the state houses to the north-west of Howard Street. Named in 1938. A small amount of information from the library website and not a lot that I can add. …

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Macann Lane in Spreydon – Named after Reginald Edward Carson Macann (1919-1989) and his wife, Nola Olive Macann (1928-2013). The Macanns lived at 438a Barrington Street from 1949. In 2013 this address is 8 Macann Lane. From 1969 the Macanns had a market garden there with glasshouses. The original access to the house became the …

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McLeish Lane in Spreydon- First appears in street directories in 1993. Not a lot of information on the library website but I couldn’t find any extra information either.Every house was built in 1990s and they are all brick. Must have been the same developer who built my place. If anyone knows my place then you …

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Willis Place in Spreydon – Named after William Henry Willis (1894?- 1959). Willis, a builder, was a resident of the street in 1950, the year it first appears in street directories. A small amount of information from the library website. Checked Papers Past and ancestry website. Couldn’t find a grave for William Willis or for …

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Winston Avenue in Papanui- Formerly Railway Street. Named because of its proximity to the Main North Railway line. Re-named Winston Avenue. Named after The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965). Railway Street first appears in street directories in 1927. Re-named Winston Avenue in 1940 in response to a petition from 20 residents of …

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Dormer Street in Papanui – Referred to as a “new street” in The Press in 1913. First appears in street directories in 1915. Diedrich Wilhelm Leonard Mehrtens (1882-1952), a carter, is the sole resident. A Papanui war memorial street.A small amount of information from the library website and I disagree with the information about Diedrich …

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Church Lane – Named because it is a short road leading from Papanui Road past St Mary’s Anglican Church “Church Lane, St Albans” first appears in the Star in 1887 in a death notice. First appears in street directories in 1924.A small amount of information from the library website and the name is very obvious …

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Rastrick Street – formerly Rastrick’s Lane. Named after the Rastrick family Joseph Rastrick (1808?- 1874) was a builder of Papanui Road, and his sons, Robinson Rastrick (1838-1900) and William Rastrick (1835?-1898), had a builder’s shop at what became 29 Rastrick Street. They were among the principal local building contractors in the late 19th century. The …

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Dorset Street – Formerly Park Street. Named because of its proximity to Hagley Park. Re-named Dorset Street. Named after Dorset, a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. Park Street first appears in street directories in 1885. Re-named Dorset Street on 7 March 1904. Among a number of streets re-named in 1904 …

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