Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

Martindales Rd – Named after Robert Wilkinson Martindale (1831- 1892). Martindale arrived in Canterbury about 1863 and lived in the Heathcote Valley. He was foreman to George Holmes, a railway contractor who built the Lyttelton railway tunnel. Information about the naming of this road was given in a letter to The Press written by a …

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Hamlet Lane – nothing on library website about this lane. There are two possible reasons for this name and one is that the developer liked Shakespeare especially as there is a Cordelia Lane nearby. The other possible reason for the name relates to another nearby street called Pawaho which is named after Pawaho Hamlet.It is …

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Newbery Street – Probably named after Newbury in Berkshire, England. Newbury Street first appears in street directories in 1916. Re-named Newbery Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were re-named.A small amount of information from the library website. I couldn’t find any more information on Papers Past. Found both spellings on Papers Past being …

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Kitchener Place – Named after Horatio Herbert Kitchener, the Earl of Khartoum, usually known as Lord Kitchener (1850-1916). Kitchener visited Christchurch in 1910. First mentioned in The Press in 1945. First appears in street directories in 1947. A wee bit of information from the library website and I can’t add anything extra. The houses in …

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Ford Road – Named because it was the site of a ford across the Heathcote River used by early settlers travelling from Lyttelton to Christchurch. First appears in street directories in 1906.A wee bit of information from the library website.I couldn’t find much more information on-line but think that it had been known by this …

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Lichfield Lane and Courtyard. Nothing on library website and is probably a new development. It runs from Tuam St to Lichfield St but the interesting part is from Lichfield St to Ash St. Between Ash St and Tuam it just looks like the back entrances to businesses on Madras St and Poplar St.There were restaurants …

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Ash Street – formerly Elm Street and Beech Street. Elm Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1892 when the Christchurch City Council made it a public street. First appears in street directories in 1906. Re-named Beech Street in 1926 when 21 streets were re-named. Re-named Ash Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 …

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Rauora Park and Bedford Terrace. Nothing on library website as this area has been developed since the earthquakes. Most of the original buildings were demolished. It is an area bounded by Armagh St, Manchester St, Lichfield St and Madas St. It is an open area that has been landscaped and is still being developed. Down …

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Poplar Street – The council made it a public street on 10 October 1892. First appears in street directories in 1919. A small amount of information from the library website. I couldn’t find any information on Papers Past apart from lots of ads for a furniture factory. In later years this street became a popular …

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Latimer Square – Named after Hugh Latimer (1492?- 1555), Bishop of Worcester 1535- 1539. One of the original streets of Christchurch named by Captain Joseph Thomas (b. 1803?) and Edward Jollie (1825-1894). The names were taken from bishoprics listed in Burke’s Peerage. Latimer Square, Cranmer Square and Ridley (later Cathedral) Square are all named after …

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