Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

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 …

Continue reading “McLeish Lane in the suburb of Spreydon, Christchurch”

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 …

Continue reading “Willis Place in the suburb of Spreydon, Christchurch”

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 …

Continue reading “Winston Avenue in the suburb of Papanui, Christchurch”

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 …

Continue reading “Dormer Street in the suburb of Papanui, Christchurch”

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 …

Continue reading “Church Lane in the suburb of Merivale, Christchurch”

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 …

Continue reading “Rastrick Street in the suburb of Merivale, Christchurch”

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 …

Continue reading “Dorset Street in the Central City, Christchurch”

Dublin Street – formerly Carlton Street Named after Dublin, capital, county borough, and seaport of the Republic of Ireland. Carlton Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1879 in a report of a meeting of the Municipal Committee. First appears in street directories in 1885. Re-named Dublin Street on 7 March 1904 after amalgamation …

Continue reading “Dublin Street in the Central City, Christchurch”

Butterfield Ave in Linwood – Formerly Cemetery Road. Named because it ran from Buckleys Road to Linwood cemetery. Re-named Butterfield Avenue. May be named after Thomas Henry Butterfield (1879?- 1951). In 1884 William Attwood (1835?-1889), a farmer of Ferry Road, offered to donate land for a road from Buckleys Road to the new cemetery at …

Continue reading “Butterfield Avenue in the suburb of Linwood, Christchurch”

Leyden St in Phillipstown- Church Street Church Street first appears in street directories in 1892. Re-named Leyden Street in 1909. Another suggestion made at the time was re-naming the street Wesley Street.A small amount of information from the library website. I searched Papers Past, ancestry website and cemetery database and couldn’t find anyone with the …

Continue reading “Leyden Street in the suburb of Phillipstown, Christchurch”