Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

Canberra Place in Redwood and I was very surprised that this street wasn’t on the library website. When I walked the street yesterday my first thought was that the houses had a very 1960ish look about them plus there was a footpath on both sides of the street. I was correct about 1960 as most …

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Albert Sheppard Close in Yaldhurst – Named after Albert Shepherd George (1868?-1962). [NB His name is spelt incorrectly in the street name.]The land developed into the Delamain subdivision had been owned by the George family for the last three generations. The original purchaser and his son were both named Albert Shepherd George. Named in 2007. …

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Rhodes Street in Merivale – Named after Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes (1859- 1922). Rhodes was a lawyer, politician and property investor. He also built Te Koraha, now the nucleus of Rangi Ruru School. Rhodes Street is first mentioned in the Star in an advertisement in 1906. First appears in street directories in 1909. Rhodes is …

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Carlton Mill Road in Merivale – formerly Carlton Street. Named after the Carlton Mill, a local flour mill. Richard Woodford founded the original Carlton Mill about 1853. Carlton Mill Road is first mentioned in The Press in 1871 when a Mrs Baber advertises for a general servant. First appears in street directories in 1887. Re-named …

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Millbank Lane in Merivale and there wasn’t any information on the library website. It is possibly a private lane but the signpost didn’t say private lane. The name is fairly obvious as the tiny street runs off Carlton Mill Road and the houses back onto the river. The street was developed between 30 and 42 …

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Dovedale Ave in Ilam – Named after Dovedale, a village in Derbyshire. Sarah Hodgkinson, née Mellor, (1825?-1895) was born in Dovedale. She and her husband Charles Hodgkinson (1826-1888) were employed at Ilam Hall, having been among the servants who sailed to Canterbury with the Hon. John Watts-Russell in 1858. Hodgkinson is described as a “gardener …

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Athol Terrace in Upper Riccaton – Formerly Godley Street. Named after John Robert Godley (1814-1861). Re-named Athol Terrace. Godley was a lawyer, writer, administrator, coloniser and public servant. Godley Street first appears in street directories in 1930. Re-named Athol Terrace on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were re-named. A small amount of inform the …

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Exeter Street in Merivale – formerly part of Winchester Street. Named after Exeter in the Southwest of England. Winchester Street was formerly Princes Street and had been re-named earlier that year on 7 March 1904. Winchester Street from Andover Street to Carlton Road (later Carlton Mill Road) was re-named Exeter Street on 12 December 1904. …

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Cheltenham Street in Merivale – formerly Regent Street. Named after Cheltenham College in Gloucestershire, England. Regent Street first appears in street directories in 1890. Re-named Cheltenham Street in 1909. One of a number of streets in the area named after English public schools. A small amount of information from the library website. Papers Past didn’t …

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Desmond Street in Merivale – Desmond is a first name popular with the Helmore family. Frederic Desmond Helmore (1882?- 1934) served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport Section in World War I. John Desmond Helmore (1913-1988) was the father of Desmond W. Helmore (1940-) who wrote Drawings of New Zealand …

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