Nicholas Drive in Linwood – Named after Sergeant Henry James Nicholas (1891-1918). Nicholas was awarded the Victoria Cross following his bravery in action at Polderhoek in Belgium on 3 December 1917. Members of his family are buried at Bromley Cemetery. Developed in Sandilands. Houses were built there by the Christchurch City Council for returned soldiers after World War One (1914-1918). It was known as a cottage homes settlement. The street name was suggested at a meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association on 29 October 1934. Named officially in 1935. First appears in street directories in 1939.A reasonable amount of information from the library website. I actually walked this street in December 2019 and thought that I had already written it up. I have walked this street twice as there are two geocaches nearby. My geocaching friends will understand why I prefer not to walk it again. Only 6 entries on the website Papers Past and they all relate to the naming of the street and why the street was formed. It was a Soldiers Settlement in an area called Sandilands. Nicholas Drive was applied to the main entrance and the roads enclosing the administration block. There is no longer an administration block and going by the description it was probably where the reserve is now. More houses were built in 1946. There are only 31 properties on this street and most were built in the 1940s and 1960s. They are a mixture of brick and wooden houses. The brick houses look like 1960s style and the wooden ones look like 1940s style. This street runs between Kearneys Rd and Pages Rd. Henry James Nicholas was killed in the first World War and is buried in Vertigneul Churchyard. His Victoria Cross was presented to his mother on ANZAC Day in 1919. She donated his medals to the Museum. The statue of a soldier near the Bridge of Remembrance that was erected in 2007 is of Henry James Nicholas.

Seaview Rd and Brighton Mall in New Brighton – Sea View Road was formed in 1890 and first appears in street directories in 1911. It was the road into New Brighton when leaving New Brighton Road and went directly towards the sea. In 1887, the New Brighton Tramway Company put its bridge over the river from what is now Pages Road and into Seaview Road. Listed as Seaview Road in street directories from 1914. However in New Brighton, Canterbury’s Playground, published in 1923, both versions of the name (Sea View and Seaview) are used. [In 1918 the New Brighton Borough Council considered changing the name to Anzac Street but this was never done.]A reasonable amount of information from the library website about Seaview Rd. I have included Brighton Mall as it used to be part of Seaview Rd. I couldn’t find out when it was named Brighton Mall. In 1899 channelling of the street was discussed plus drainage issues. In 1920s and 1930s there seemed to be a lot of car accidents on this street. In 1931 a cyclist riding fast at night without lights knocked down the local police Inspector F Blewitt. In 1925 the property belonging to the late G Hawker was for sale. In 1929 there was a lot of discussion about the new bridge over the Avon. In 1920s and 1930s there seemed to be lots of burglaries and fires in private houses and businesses. A chemist shop and a draper shop plus the Premier Picture Theatre were amongst the businesses either had a fire or was burgled. I found it slightly amusing that a business called Self Help Co-op Grocery Co was broken into. The businesses in this street heavily promoted Saturday shopping and I used to enjoy going to Brighton on Saturdays. This was obviously before shops elsewhere opened in the weekends. I did like the letter to the paper in December 1935 from Patricia McCarthy to Santa Claus. She gave very precise directions to how to get to her house at 149 Seaview Rd plus there would be a thermos flask of tea for him. The area was also promoted as an area for seaside holidays and most ads were about a house called Oriental House. There was a good letter to the editor dated 14th June 1924 headed Father of Brighton. The businesses all seemed to be in the area which is now Brighton Mall. The Mall has lots of shops but sadly many of them are closed. There are a few houses at the other end of the street near the river but several now house businesses. A couple of houses from 1890 and 1910 but most date in the 1970s.The New Brighton Police Station is on this street plus Grace Vineyard Church. The New Brighton School used to have an entrance on this street and the school took up the block from Seaview St to Hawke St. I walked this street at least three weeks ago after a visit to Burwood Hospital. I believe that there is a weekend market in the Mall area.

Joe Burns Place – Named after a local identity of the Wigram area. First appears in street directories in 1993.A small amount of information from the library website. I found a Joseph Gregory Burns who was an airman at Wigram and in 1969 his address was Air Force Station. He died 31st March 1990 and he was born 24th June 1915. Couldn’t find much information on the Ancestry website. In 1952 he married Gladys Crum and in 1941 his occupation was jockey. It is highly likely that he lived in the area where this street is situated and most the houses here were built in 2000. There is a walkway through to Corsair Ave. There is a footpath on only one side of the street which I dislike. The developer with the column fetishes obviously built some of these houses. It actually looked like a pleasant street apart from the footpath issue. I actually walked this street in November last year but only posted on Facebook and not here. Taking advantage of lockdown and a wet day to tidy up my street project.

FW Delamain Drive – Named after Frederick William Delamain (1835- 1910). Delamain, a horsebreeder, owned Yaldhurst, a racing stables and stud. He named it after his uncle’s place in Exeter, England. He sold this property in 1878. He was also a descendant of one of France’s great cognac making families. In the Delamain subdivision. Named in 2007.A park called Delamain Park goes the full length of one side of this street and I couldn’t find the cache here. I hate that tussock grass. The Council uses it in all parks and reserves and in the reserve next to my own house it is damaging my fence and I have ended up with it growing in my garden. The Council aren’t interested in fixing the issue. The other side had modern houses which were nice. Most had lovely gardens. Not sure how I managed to miss loading this street to this website as I walked it ages ago when I was geocaching in the area.

Southampton Street in Sydenham- Probably named after Southampton in Hampshire, England. First appears in the Star in 1882 when a house to let is advertised Southampton Street. First appears in street directories in 1887. A small amount of information on the library website. Nothing that I can add about the name of the street and possibly one of the naming committee had a connection to Southampton. This is a long street that runs from Colombo St to Tennyson St. There wasn’t as many mentions on Papers Past as I expected and this is because it would possibly was a working class area. In 1882 there were two new cottages for sale. The houses here date from 1910 to more recent houses. A couple of toilet block style houses but many are wooden older villas. They are in a similar style with one big bay window in the front of the house. Most are in a reasonable condition but a few looking a bit rundown. There is one Art Deco house on the street. At the Colombo St end there is a big building housing Salvation Army Headquarters and a op shop. There is a lovely house near Colombo St end which I loved and it is next to an identical house that was very rundown. A local that I chatted with said that the rundown house was just as rundown inside. There is an entrance to Essie Summers Retirement Village here and a huge number of apartments which are possibly part of Essie Summers. The retirement home is named after a Christchurch author who wrote romance novels. I don’t normally read this genre but will confess to have read some of her books because they set in Christchurch. Another street that I walked in February but only posted on Facebook and not here. I obviously did a lot walking in February so I checked my steps and I walked over 34,000 steps in a two day period.

Redbridge Lane in Sydenham – Formed in 1970. First appears in street directories in 1972. A small amount of information from the library website. I will confess that I didn’t actually walk this street as it is a private lane that looked like someone’s driveway. I was very surprised that the QV website has 17 properties here as it didn’t look big enough for that many houses. They were all built in the 1970s and the lane was developed at what would have been 146 Southampton St. I don’t know why the name Redbridge for the street but I found a Redbridge Lane in the English city of Southampton. This is another street from February that I put on my Facebook but not on WordPress. I looked back in my diary to see why and I had two geocaching trips at the same time. I went to Greymouth and Dunedin in February and March.

Montrose Street in Sydenham- Named after James Graham, first Marquess of Montrose (1612- 1650). Montrose was a Scottish supporter of the House of Stuart and also a poet. 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 in January 1880. First mentioned in the Star in 1882 when property is advertised for sale in Montrose Street. First appears in street directories in 1892. A reasonable amount of information from the library website. Nothing that I can add about the naming the the street and at some stage I would like to access the committee papers about the naming of the streets. Montrose is also a place name in Scotland. Papers Past had sections for sale in 1892 but there was a cottage for let as early as 1883. There were several notices for William Barnett’s wife as they lived on this street. I mentioned this family when writing up King St. In 1912 there were several complaints from the residents of the street as they claimed that the council had deposited sewage on the road. This street runs from Southampton St to Huxley St and there are only 22 properties here. They date from 1890 through to 1949 with only one more modern house dated 1990. Some of the houses were lovely and I did like this street. Another street that I walked in February but neglected to add to this website. Tidying up my street project during lockdown as I have walked the majority of streets near where I live.

King Street in Sydenham- First mentioned in the Star in 1879 when it is reported that a deputation from Sandridge told a meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council there was a sand hole in King Street 4 feet deep. A small amount of information from the library website. Found the same article about the sand hole. There was a King St in most towns in New Zealand and I am not sure why as there was a queen on the throne during the settlement of New Zealand. Huge number of birth and death notices for this street. In 1887 someone was fined for wandering cows and this happened a lot in Christchurch. My personal favourite was in 1899 when someone was fined for riding a bike on the footpath. I think everyone must know how I feel about cyclists on the footpaths. In 1881 a hotel license was refused for a house on the corner of Colombo St and King St. In 1886 and 1890 there was mention of Sandridge Tce, King St, Sydenham. Looks like the area was originally called Sandridge. and there is still a Sandridge Hotel on Huxley St. In 1900 there was several mention of a Barnett Relief Fund and they raised enough money to buy a house on King St for a Mrs Barnett and her family. William Barnett was accidently killed in June 1900 when he tripped and his horse that was attached to a heavily laden van ran over him breaking his spine. Mrs Barnett had about 9 living children and must have been pregnant as she had a daughter in January 1901. The fundraising was led by Mr Manhire the mayor of Sydenham. King Street is a long street that runs from Colombo Street to Croydon Street. At the Colombo St end there is a Mitre 10 shop and a KFC. There are about 250 houses here dating from 1905 to a few newly built ones. Many houses on this street were built in the 1970s and of the ownership flats style. The houses from 1915 to 1920s look like they were worker cottages but have been modernised in such a way that they have no character. Many multi dwelling ugly buildings. There are a few houses that have an original look about them and are well maintained. A few rougher looking houses. It is a pity that the older houses have done up in such a way that they have lost all character. I didn’t particularly like the street. Another street that I walked back in February and missed loading to this site. Using lockdown as a good excuse to catch up on things.

Ikamatua Lane in Sydenham- First appears in street directories in 1977. A small amount of information from the library website. Another street that I didn’t actually walk as it looked like someone’s driveway. The QV website has 16 properties here mostly built in 1970s and 1980s. It has been developed where 171 Southampton St would have been. There is a tiny town on the West Coast with the same name and it apparently translates as mature / parent fish or fish of my ancestor. I actually did this one way back in February but spending lockdown tidying up my street project and adding streets that I missed loading here.

Gracefield Ave – Formerly Hyndman’s Lane. Named after Peter Hyndman (1843- 1914). Re-named Gracefield Street which was combined with Grace Avenue, named after owner Francis James Grace, to become Gracefield Avenue. Hyndman, a builder, lived at 857 Colombo Street. His property backed on to where the lane was formed. Hyndman’s Lane first appears in 1894 street directories running off 108 Salisbury Street. By 1909 it leads to Grace Avenue although Grace Avenue is not listed as a street address. Land in Grace Avenue is advertised for sale in the Star in 1907. By 1912 Hyndman’s Lane has been re-named Gracefield Street. Grace Avenue ran off Durham Street and Gracefield Street off Salisbury Street. The two were combined to become Gracefield Avenue in 1930.A reasonable amount of information from the library website and there are a couple of mistakes in this information. I mostly just searched Papers Past. There were many ads in 1907 for selling sections in the Gracefield Estate with the added note from the developer that the street to be renamed Grace Ave subject to council consent. The council declined to rename the street Grace Ave and that the name of Gracefield St that the council had already decided on would be the name of the street. This means the street was never called Grace Ave. In 1908 the sewer was laid for the street. In 1913 Gracefield Street was described as a new thoroughfare formed through a property that was recently cut up and houses built on it. Gracefield Street was a full width street until it met Hyndman’s Lane which remains it’s originally width. In 1912 and 1913 there were lots of complaints about the state of Gracefield Street but the council replied that problems were with Hyndman’s Lane which was a private lane on private property. In 1917 there was a fire in a builder’s workshop occupied by Mr J A Scarff and belonged to the late Peter Hineman. I am assuming that the newspaper spelt Hyndman incorrectly. Peter Hyndman lived at 857 Colombo St and he died in 1914. His land was on the corner of Colombo St and Salisbury St. The Canterbury Bowling Club was frequently mentioned. In 1935 a block of flats to be built and they were described as being built to a design not used in New Zealand before. To be built in an H shape so that all flats would get the sun. In 1921 a resident H Holland on behalf of the street’s residents requested that the council take over the street. This was agreed to as long as the owners paid for the forming and metalling. In 1930 the name of the street was changed from Gracefield Street to Gracefield Avenue and the residents of the street heartily approved. None of the historic maps show Hyndman’s Lane and show Gracefield Ave taking up the full street as early as 1912.The name H Holland appeared frequently and he was the MP for Christchurch North until he retired in 1935 on medical advice. Just to be confusing there were two politicians called Henry Holland but the other Henry Holland was Australian born but was also involved in New Zealand’s politics. The Christchurch’s Henry Holland son Sidney Holland was also a politician. There are still a few older houses here and one that was built in 1920 is gorgeous. The rest of modern houses built in 1990 or 2020 and some are really ugly but when I saw who the developer is I was not surprised they are ugly. The bowling club is still there but had such a high fence I couldn’t see it and the address for it is now Salisbury St. I actually walked this in May this year and forgot to load it here. Taking advantage of lockdown to tidy up my street project.